The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has finalized its schedule for the annual maintenance shutdown for the Coastal Branch of the State Water Project, and to accommodate DWR’s schedule, CCWA will operate Pipeline Turnouts as follows:

• All Pipeline Turnouts will be shut down between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Friday October 30, 2026.

Once shutdown maintenance work is complete, CCWA will activate Pipeline Turnouts and resume water deliveries. CCWA anticipates resuming water deliveries during the week of November 16, 2026,  according to the following schedule:

• Water deliveries for the Golden State Water Company, City of Santa Maria, City of Guadalupe, Lopez, Chorro Valley and Shandon Turnouts will be targeted to resume between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
• Water deliveries for Vandenberg Space Force Base, City of Buellton, City of Solvang and Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District - Improvement District No. 1 Turnouts will be targeted to resume on Thursday,  November 19, 2026.

2026 Free Chlorine Burn

CCWA is planning to conduct a free chlorine burn of the Pipeline prior to the annual maintenance shutdown. The free chlorine burn is achieved by converting the residual disinfectant to free chlorine from chloramines. The objective of the activity is to reduce system nitrification problems by using chlorine to inactivate nitrifying bacteria and other microorganisms in the bulk fluid or biofilm of the pipeline and oxidize free ammonia in the system, leading to a long-term improvement in drinking water quality.

CCWA will initiate the free chlorine burn during the week of October 19, 2026. Free chlorine will be used as the residual disinfectant for approximately 30 days. At the conclusion of the annual maintenance shutdown, CCWA will purge the Pipeline by resuming Lake Cachuma delivery operations prior to activating Turnouts, and resume using chloramines as the residual disinfectant in delivered water.

CCWA will provide notification of any changes to the above schedule as soon as practical. Please call David Beard at (805) 688-2292 ext. 228 with any questions or concerns related to the annual maintenance shutdown schedule or free chlorine burn.