Background

West Goshen is a small, unincorporated community just west of Visalia in Tulare County. While a portion of the community gets safe drinking water from California Water Service — which also serves the city of Visalia — an estimated 58 households still rely on private wells. During the 2012-2016 drought, some of the wells supplying these households went dry, leaving families with no running water in their homes.

Today, California continues to face drought and West Goshen residents reliant on private wells are concerned they may, once again, lose their water.

Even when the wells aren’t dry, a number of contaminants that make water unsafe for drinking, cooking, and in some cases bathing, have been found in their groundwater supply. These contaminants include nitrate, 1,2,3-trichloropropane, and uranium. 

• In 2021, West Goshen residents formed the community-based organization West Goshen Water for Life.

• In 2022, Community Water Center worked with West Goshen residents and the engineering firm Dee Jaspar & Associates to complete an alternatives analysis study. After the completion of the alternative analysis study, the community of West Goshen decided to consolidate with Cal Water Visalia as its long-term water solution.

• In 2022, the Department of Water Resources awarded Tulare County a $3.4 million grant for the express purpose of connecting nearby West Goshen homes to a permanent and sustainable water source.

• In early June 2025, Community Water Center hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the years of dedicated effort, advocacy, and leadership from the community as well as the successful partnership of the Department of Water Resources, State Water Resources Control Board, Tulare County Resource Management Agency, Cal Water, and Community Water Center. Construction began in May 2025. Watch the groundbreaking celebration here.

• By Fall 2025, residents currently supplied by private wells will be connected to the Cal Water Visalia system.