SAN JOSE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 03/22/16 -- California Water Service (Cal Water), the largest subsidiary of California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT), announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has approved the company's first patent (US #9272928), for a device that helps protect the environment by preventing overflows of chlorinated water that is potentially harmful to fish and wildlife.
Before a "tank overflow dechlorinating assembly and method" technology was created, chlorinated water from storage tanks could overflow into creeks, rivers, and streams if the tank's electronic shutoff mechanism ever failed. With no available backup safety device on the market, the chlorinated water overflows could negatively impact the local environment. Chlorine is used in water as a disinfectant to make it safe for human consumption but can also impact fish and wildlife.
The invention of the assembly provides a second layer of security and a tailor-made solution for water storage tanks, as it attaches directly to the overflow pipe and delivers dechlorination tablets, held inside the unit, to dechlorinate any overflowing water. After the water has been through the dechlorination process, it greatly reduces the risk to the local environment.
"We are proud to have employees who thought critically about how to solve this environmental concern, instead of accepting overflows as a risk," said President and Chief Executive Martin A. Kropelnicki. "Our employees -- and the strength and innovation they have as a team -- have made Cal Water a leader in providing our customers, communities, and environment with quality, service, and value."
With this patent, Cal Water can help other water companies and government agencies prevent chlorinated overflow at their tank sites. According to Kropelnicki, any revenue or royalties received from the device would also benefit Cal Water customers in future lower rates.
California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service, Washington Water Service Company, New Mexico Water Service Company, Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc., CWS Utility Services, and HWS Utility Services. Together these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to approximately 2 million people in more than 100 California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii communities. Group's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CWT." Additional information is available online at www.calwatergroup.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("Act"). The forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for "safe harbor" treatment established by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and management's judgment about the Company, the water utility industry and general economic conditions. Such words as would, expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, assumes, anticipates, projects, predicts, forecasts or variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from what is contained in a forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause a result different than expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to: governmental and regulatory commissions' decisions; changes in regulatory commissions' policies and procedures; the timeliness of regulatory commissions' actions concerning rate relief; new legislation; changes in accounting valuations and estimates; changes in accounting treatment for regulated companies, including adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards, if required; electric power interruptions; increases in suppliers' prices and the availability of supplies including water and power; fluctuations in interest rates; changes in environmental compliance and water quality requirements; litigation that may result in damages or costs not recoverable from third parties; acquisitions and our ability to successfully integrate acquired companies; the ability to successfully implement business plans; changes in customer water use patterns; the impact of weather and climate on water sales and operating results; access to sufficient capital on satisfactory terms; civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts, or apprehension about the possible future occurrences of acts of this type; the involvement of the United States in war or other hostilities; our ability to attract and retain qualified employees; labor relations matters as we negotiate with the unions; federal health care law changes that could result in increases to Company health care costs and additional income tax expenses in future years; changes in federal and state income tax regulations and treatment of such by regulatory commissions; implementation of new information technology systems; changes in operations that result in an impairment to acquisition goodwill; restrictive covenants in or changes to the credit ratings on our current or future debt that could increase our financing costs or affect our ability to borrow, make payments on debt or pay dividends; general economic conditions, including changes in customer growth patterns and our ability to collect billed revenue from customers; and, other risks and unforeseen events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph, as well as the annual 10-K, Quarterly 10-Q, and other reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Company assumes no obligation to provide public updates of forward-looking statements.
1720 North First St., San Jose, CA 95112
Contact:
Yvonne Kingman
(310) 257-1434
