From Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2025

Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District Begins Second Phase of Seismic Upgrades to Water Storage Infrastructure
 

Contact:

Contessa Dickson

Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District

Phone: 707-443-5018

Email: Contessa@HBMWD.com

Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District (HBMWD) has successfully completed the first phase of the seismic retrofit of its domestic water storage tanks, a critical component of its ongoing commitment to infrastructure resilience. The second phase of the retrofit is set to begin Friday, May 23, 2025, and will focus on upgrades to the District’s 2-million gallon storage tank. To maintain water quality during this next phase, HBMWD will temporarily increase the chlorine residual in the water supply. This proactive measure ensures continued compliance with state and federal drinking water standards throughout the duration of the retrofit, which is scheduled for completion in Fall 2025. “The increased chlorine residual should not be noticeable at the tap and will support completion of the seismic upgrades to our water storage tanks,” said Dale Davidsen, Superintendent at HBMWD. “These upgrades are needed to protect our infrastructure and improve our seismic resiliency.” Chlorine is routinely added to drinking water to eliminate bacteria and harmful microorganisms during the treatment process. A chlorine residual—a small, safe amount of chlorine—remains in the water as it travels through distribution pipelines to ensure that water reaching customers’ faucets remains clean and safe to drink. HBMWD provides high-quality drinking water to much of Humboldt County, including the Cities of Arcata, Blue Lake, and Eureka, as well as the Community Services Districts of Humboldt, Manila, McKinleyville, and Fieldbrook.