RIVERSIDE, CA – Western Municipal Water District (Western) is urging customers to beware of calls, emails or visits from scammers claiming to be from or representing Western. Western employees always wear either their uniform with their name and Western logo or can produce an employee badge for verification. If you are unsure if a call or email you are receiving is from Western, call us at 951.571.7104 or email [email protected].
“Western staff will always provide proper identification upon request when visiting a home or business,” said General Manager Craig Miller. “Contractors affiliated with Western identify themselves as such and refrain from vague language association like ‘the district’ or ‘the water company.’”
Private companies not affiliated with Western often solicit business or leave door hangers and mailers that are vague in nature, asking for customer information or claiming to solve a water quality issue. Western conducts more than 4,500 water quality tests each year to ensure tap water delivered to our customers meets and exceeds all state and federal water quality regulations. For more information on Western’s water quality, visit wmwd.com/WaterQuality.
Calls demanding immediate payment or claiming that your water will be shutoff are NOT methods used by Western to communicate with customers to collect past due payments. If an account is past due, Western will provide notification through the following methods:

• Auto Call – Customers will receive an automated call generated by Western’s customer service team requesting a call back to pay any past due balances.
• Bill Notice – Customers will receive a past due notice accompanied by their bill and past due amount.
• Direct Mail – Customers will be provided seven-day notice via FedEx of the intent to interrupt service.

“Customers are encouraged to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious,” Miller said.
Members of our service teams will wear a uniform and will arrive in trucks that have a Western logo. Under no circumstances will service team members need to enter your home. If a member of Western staff cannot show you an identification badge, or if you have a concern about that person’s identification, please contact Western’s customer service team at 951.571.7104 or email [email protected].
For more information about Western, visit wmwd.com.

RIVERSIDE, CA – The Western Municipal Water District (Western) Board of Directors on Wednesday, April 1, adopted Resolution 3112 declaring a local state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. 
Today’s declaration of a local emergency grants general manager, Craig Miller, increased flexibility to make critical operational decisions and acquire vital financial, material, and human resources to support business continuity. This action ensures the essential water and wastewater (sewer) services that Western provides remain as reliable as ever.
The action does not mean that there is any risk to Western customers or threat to Western’s ability to continue delivering clean drinking water. Western’s water supply remains plentiful, safe and of the highest quality. Western’s wastewater collection and treatment service, as well as recycled water service remain fully operational.
“With the prolonged statewide stay-at-home order, it is critical that we implement additional safeguards for business continuity so that our communities continue to have the essential resource of clean, safe water. Our delivery systems remain unaffected by COVID-19 and you can count on us to keep the water flowing,” said General Manager Craig Miller.
Ongoing measures include, but are not limited to:

• Streamlining funding and coordinating resources
• Implementing a telecommuting policy for applicable staff to maintain business continuity
• Ensuring continuous water delivery and wastewater treatment and sewer service in rotating shifts

Western’s Board of Directors recently adopted a resolution to suspend all water service shutoffs due to non-payment and will not be imposing late payment penalty fees or interest until June 2020.
“With many of our customers facing financial uncertainty, we want you to know your water supply and sewer service are not something you need to worry about,” said Miller.
Additionally, Western is looking to customers to do their part to help maintain a healthy sewer to keep our wastewater system flowing.
Customers are being asked to avoid flushing anything that is not toilet paper. “Flushable” wipes, disinfectant wipes and baby wipes can create clogs in the sewer system. Flushing these materials can cause overflows and back-ups into homes, which ultimately create additional health care concerns. Remember the three P’s when flushing—pee, poo, and (toilet) paper.
Learn more about how Western is supporting customers during the Coronavirus pandemic at wmwd.com/Coronavirus. Learn more about Western’s water quality at wmwd.com/WaterQuality.