CCWD Launches Campaign to Raise Awareness About the Contra Costa Canal by Contra Costa Water District Apr 28, 2025 Member Submitted News Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) has launched a new public awareness campaign to highlight the importance of the Contra Costa Canal and the need to plan for the replacement of its most critical and aging segments. The campaign, titled “Serving Today, Planning for Tomorrow,” is designed to educate the community on how this 80-year-old system supports water reliability for more than 520,000 people—and why proactive planning is essential. The highlight of the campaign is a narrated two-minute video. Supporting materials include a mix of digital outreach, printed literature, paid advertising, and updated online resources to help residents and stakeholders understand the canal’s role and the challenges ahead. Built in the 1930s and ’40s, the Contra Costa Canal delivers untreated water from the Delta to local water treatment plants, industrial users, and irrigation customers. It supplies 99% of CCWD’s total water deliveries. While the canal has served the region well for generations, its open, concrete-lined design now poses increasing challenges—from storm-related damage and debris to safety risks and water quality concerns. “Reliable water is what has allowed our communities to grow, thrive, and succeed for generations,” said CCWD Board President and ACWA Vice President Ernesto Avila. “Our children and their children deserve the same: clean, dependable water that is safe and available whenever they turn on the tap.” The Canal Replacement Program proposes replacing the Main Canal—from Rock Slough near Oakley to Clyde, just north of Concord—with a buried pipeline. This new configuration would be more resilient to extreme weather, easier to maintain, and better protected from contamination. “We’re still in the early stages of project planning,” said General Manager Rachel Murphy. “Right now, we’re evaluating design options, environmental considerations, and funding strategies. The goal is to deliver long-term water reliability while minimizing impacts during construction.” A key focus of the Serving Today, Planning for Tomorrow campaign is helping the public better understand what the canal is, why it matters, and the growing challenges of operating and maintaining the facility. To learn more about the Contra Costa Canal, visit www.ccwater.com/Canal. Follow the campaign on social media with the hashtag #ServingTodayPlanningForTomorrow About CCWD Contra Costa Water District delivers safe, clean water to approximately 520,000 people in central and eastern Contra Costa County in Northern California. Formed in 1936 to provide water for irrigation and industry, we are now one of the largest urban water districts in California and a leader in drinking-water treatment technology and source water protection. As a public water agency, we are committed to transparency and sharing information about our public services with many and varied audiences.
