News & Press

Citrus Heights Water District General Manager Announces Retirement

After more than 20 years of service to the Citrus Heights community, including a decade as General Manager of Citrus Heights Water District (CHWD/District), Hilary Straus has announced his retirement effective September 30, 2026.

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Citrus Heights Water District Approves No Rate Increase for the Remainder of 2026 and All of 2027

Citrus Heights Water District (CHWD) Board of Directors voted on May 18, 2026, to approve no water rate increase for the remainder of 2026 and all of 2027—a move that keeps its water rates below the regional average for more than 10 consecutive years.

The Board’s action reflects the District’s continued focus on balancing reliable water service, ongoing infrastructure needs, and responsible financial planning on behalf of customers.

“CHWD remains committed to providing reliable service while carefully managing costs for our customers,” said Caryl F. Sheehan, CHWD Board President. “The Board determined that no rate increase for the remainder of 2026 and all of 2027 is appropriate after reviewing the District’s financial position, operational needs, and customer affordability.”

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Citrus Heights Water District Transitioning to New Utility Billing System

Citrus Heights Water District (CHWD) is transitioning to Xpress Bill Pay, a modern, secure, and user-friendly billing platform designed to streamline account management and payment processing for all customers. Xpress Bill Pay replaces a 30-year-old legacy system and will provide customers with additional online account management features and an improved billing experience.

All customers will receive a paper statement between mid-August and mid-October, according to their regular billing schedule.

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Citrus Heights Water District Recognizes Young Artists

Citrus Heights Water District (CHWD) is pleased to announce the winners of its annual Student Poster Contest, featuring this year’s theme, “From Ripple to River.”

CHWD, along with neighboring water agencies, hosts this annual poster contest to promote water awareness and education among local students. This year’s theme invited students to explore the journey of water—from a single drop to the larger systems that support our community—highlighting how every ripple plays a role in sustaining reliable water supplies.

Students from local schools participated by creating artwork that reflects their understanding of water, its journey, and its importance to everyday life. Judges were impressed by the creativity, effort, and thoughtful interpretations of how water moves through our environment and infrastructure.

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Nighttime Construction on Greenback Lane for Water Infrastructure Project

Citrus Heights Water District (CHWD) began nighttime construction activities on westbound Greenback Lane between Birdcage Street and Mariposa Avenue on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, as part of the District’s proactive Project 2030 Water Main Replacement Program.

The project includes the installation of a new 12-inch water pipe and the restoration of pavement within the work area. Construction activities will include:

• Locating underground utilities
• Saw-cutting pavement to prepare for construction
• Excavating, trenching, and backfilling
• Installing 1,520 feet of new water pipe
• Restoring pavement within the work area in coordination with the City of Citrus Heights

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Citrus Heights Water District Takes Legal Action to Protect Customers

The Citrus Heights Water District (CHWD) has filed a lawsuit against its wholesale water provider, the San Juan Water District (SJWD), after SJWD approved an agreement to sell and transfer up to 6,000 acre-feet of water between April 2026 and February 2027 to Sacramento Suburban Water District (SSWD) — without conducting the environmental review required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

This is the second legal enforcement action CHWD has taken to hold SJWD accountable for violating CEQA, as will be highlighted below.

“This water was originally secured on behalf of our customers — it is a critical part of our water supply, especially during drought years when other sources are cut back,” said Board President Caryl Sheehan.

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Citrus Heights Water Welcomes New Board Leadership and Builds on 2025 Progress in 2026

This year at Citrus Heights Water began with a handoff in Board leadership. 2025 finished strong for Citrus Heights Water, marking several accomplishments under Board President Ray Riehle. In 2026, Caryl Sheehan is serving as Board President, and progress continues.

“I’m grateful to our outgoing President Ray Riehle for his steadfast leadership,” said Board President Caryl Sheehan. “We made incredible progress in 2025. This year, we continue our long-term planning, strengthening local partnerships, reinvesting in the water system, and maintaining our responsive customer service.”

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Local Water Providers Warn Residents About Unauthorized In-Home Solicitations

Citrus Heights Water District has received reports of individuals posing as water officials, claiming tap water may be unsafe and offering unsolicited in-home water testing. These visits often lead to high-pressure sales tactics for unnecessary and costly water treatment systems.

• Citrus Heights Water District does not conduct in-home water testing. We do not have any programs where employees request to enter your home.
• District employees are always identifiable. Staff wear official uniforms, drive marked Citrus Heights Water District vehicles, and carry District-issued identification.
• Protect yourself. If you are ever unsure whether someone is a Citrus Heights Water District employee, call our office at (916) 725-6873 before engaging.

Stay alert and help share this information with friends and neighbors. Your safety and confidence in your water are our top priorities.

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CHWD Breaks Ground on Two New Wells to Secure Community's Water Future

Citrus Heights Water District (CHWD) recently began constructing two new groundwater wells to improve water reliability for the community and reduce reliance on Folsom Lake during dry years.

The project is supported by more than $6.6 million in external funding, including over $2 million in Community Project Funding championed by Congressman Ami Bera, as well as grant funding through the Regional Water Authority and the State.

The wells will include aquifer storage and recovery technology, a forward-thinking approach that allows CHWD to inject water underground during wet years and pump it out when needed. This flexibility not only supports CHWD customers—it contributes to the health of the region’s shared water supply and increases resilience across the Sacramento region.

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CHWD Recognizes Young Artists in Poster Contest

Citrus Heights Water District (CHWD) is proud to announce the winners of its annual Water Awareness Poster Contest, which encourages local students to explore the water cycle through art. This year’s theme, “The Traveling Water Droplet,” sparked 273 creative submissions from four local schools. The winning entries will be featured in CHWD’s 2026 calendar, available to customers at the District office.

Read the full press release.

The Ella Well project has been awarded $1.1 million in the Integrated Regional Water Management Grant funds for construction!

We are always looking for non-ratepayer funding and grant opportunities for our projects even though they are rare.

Read the full article here to learn more about the Ella Well project and how this well and other wells of CHWD's Groundwater Wells Program will increase water supply reliability in our service area.

On December 15, 2024, Citrus Heights Water District received two President's Special Recognition Awards from the Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority.

Click here to view the award.