Citrus Heights Water District

What Citrus Heights Water District does

Citrus Heights Water District is a California Irrigation District established in 1920 that provides municipal water service to approximately 70,000 people through 20,000+ service connections across 12.8 square miles covering portions of Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Carmichael, and Roseville. The district's core product is treated drinking water, sourced primarily from Folsom Lake via a wholesale supply contract with San Juan Water District and supplemented by groundwater wells that use aquifer storage and recovery technology. Operations are supported by a SCADA system, a GIS-based computer maintenance management system integrated with billing, advanced metering infrastructure, and a 43-FTE organization. CHWD became fully metered in 2008 and operates under exclusive service territory rights granted by the California Water Code.

The district's revenue model is built on bimonthly metered water service charges, comprising a fixed service charge based on meter size, a dedicated water main replacement charge funding Project 2030, and a consumption-based charge per unit of water. The Board of Directors approved no rate increase through the end of 2027, marking more than 10 consecutive years of below-regional-average rates. Capital investment is funded through a mix of pre-funding, pay-as-you-go, and debt financing designed for intergenerational equity.

CHWD's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: customers are reached through a physical distribution network, a website with an ePay bill portal (cw2prod) and InvoiceCloud for one-time payments, a district office, a 24/7 emergency hotline, and community engagement channels including the Customer Advisory Committee, WaterSmart classes, school programs, a demonstration garden, and a YouTube series. Recent strategic activity includes construction of Wells #7 and #8 with over $6.6 million in external funding, a 2026 utility billing system upgrade, a $25.84 million 2026 capital improvement budget, and an active CEQA legal action against San Juan Water District over a proposed 6,000 acre-foot water transfer to Sacramento Suburban Water District.

Name

Citrus Heights Water District

Legal name

Citrus Heights Water District

Website

https://chwd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Water Utility Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Retail Programs & Demand Management (conservation programs, rebates, water budgets, drought surcharges) (EUANAIAJ)

Keywords

• Municipal water utility
• Drinking water supply
• Water distribution services
• Groundwater management
• Water conservation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Citrus Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Water Service Charges: CHWD bills customers bimonthly (every two months) with a service charge based on meter size plus a water consumption charge based on actual usage. Revenue supports water system operations, maintenance, infrastructure improvements, and capital projects.
2. Water Main Replacement Dedicated Charge: A dedicated charge on customer bills attributed to Project 2030 for water main replacement. This funding plan balances pre-funding, pay-as-you-go, and debt financing to ensure intergenerational equity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Citrus Heights Water District is a public water utility that provides treated surface water (sourced from Folsom Lake via San Juan Water District) and groundwater through aquifer storage and recovery wells to approximately 70,000 people across more than 20,000 service connections in Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Carmichael, and Roseville, California. Customers are billed bimonthly based on a fixed service charge tied to meter size plus a usage-based consumption charge, with a separate dedicated charge funding Project 2030 water main replacement.

Product overview

Citrus Heights Water District operates as a single-product municipal water utility providing treated surface water (from Folsom Lake via San Juan Water District) and groundwater to approximately 70,000 people across 12.8 square miles. The core offering is metered water supply and delivery, supported by a customer-facing online bill pay system (ePay portal and InvoiceCloud), water efficiency programs (WaterSmart classes, rebates, irrigation audits), infrastructure improvement initiatives (Project 2030 water main replacement, Groundwater Program with aquifer storage and recovery), community engagement (Customer Advisory Committee, school programs, demonstration garden), and engineering services for developers. The District does not operate a multi-module software platform; its 'products' are service offerings within the water utility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Municipal Water Supply and Delivery Core water utility service providing safe, dependable, and healthy drinking water to approximately 70,000 people through more than 20,000 service connections across 12.8 square miles in Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Carmichael, and Roseville, California. Sourced from treated surface water (Folsom Lake via San Juan Water District) and groundwater wells with aquifer storage and recovery.
• Online Bill Pay and Account Management Customer portal for viewing bimonthly bills, payment history, AutoPay enrollment, scheduled payments, paperless billing, account linking for multiple properties, and text notifications. Available via the ePay portal (cw2prod) for registered users and InvoiceCloud for one-time payments.
• Water Meter Services Fully metered water billing with bimonthly cycles, including meter reading, re-read requests, meter replacement programs, and smart meter technology evaluation.
• Water Efficiency Programs Comprehensive water conservation programs for residential customers including irrigation efficiency reviews, greywater and rainwater catchment guidance, and customer support for reducing outdoor and indoor water use.
• Rebate Programs Customer rebates for pressure reducing valves, ultra-low flush toilets, high-efficiency clothes washers ($50-$75), and smart irrigation controllers, partnered with the Sacramento Tree Foundation.
• WaterSmart Classes Free educational workshops available virtually via Zoom or in-person at Sylvan Oaks Library and Sylvan Ranch Community Garden, covering irrigation efficiency, composting, native plants, rainwater catchment, and smart controller programming. Delivered in partnership with UC Master Gardeners.
• Community School Programs Classroom presentations for K-8 students on water conservation and the water cycle, plus an annual poster contest for grades 4-6 promoting water awareness in local schools.
• Engineering and Development Services Plan review, construction inspection, project management, easements, and standards documentation for private developers and public agencies connecting to the water system. Backed by a GIS mapping system that interfaces with computer maintenance management and billing.

Quantifiable outcome

• No water rate increase through end of 2027
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Regional Water AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CHWD is partnering with the Regional Water Authority (RWA) to complete an Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR) Feasibility Study. RWA also provided grant funding for CHWD's groundwater wells project.
• Sacramento Area Water Forum AgreementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000CHWD joined with other area water agencies and representatives from government, commerce, and environmental interests in crafting the Sacramento Area Water Forum Agreement, seven years in negotiating. Executed in 2000, the Agreement's core objectives are preservation of the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic value of the Lower American River while providing reliable and safe water supply for the region's economic health and planned development through 2030.
• San Juan Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHWD receives its treated surface water supply from Folsom Lake under contract with San Juan Water District. San Juan Water District acquired the North Fork Ditch Company water rights and facilities and has contracted with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for additional water from Folsom Lake. SJWD treats the water to drinking water standards at its plant near Folsom Lake in Granite Bay and delivers it to CHWD. CHWD has filed legal action against SJWD regarding water transfers without CEQA review.
• U.S. Bureau of ReclamationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bureau of Reclamation provides water from Folsom Lake to San Juan Water District, which treats and delivers it to CHWD customers. Water meters and billing requirements stem from the Central Valley Project Improvement Act requiring meters for water from federal facilities.
• UC Master GardenersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHWD partners with UC Master Gardeners for WaterSmart classes, including instructors like Ruth Ostroff who teaches classes on seed starting, spring planting, and other water-efficient gardening topics.
• Sacramento Tree FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHWD partners with Sacramento Tree Foundation for tree planting programs and rebates, with arborist Pam Sanchez providing expertise on regional tree selection and care for long-term water efficiency.
• Sacramento Suburban Water DistrictminorOthersCHWD has filed a lawsuit against San Juan Water District regarding SJWD's agreement to sell up to 6,000 acre-feet of water to Sacramento Suburban Water District between April 2026 and February 2027 without required CEQA review.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• San Juan Water District: Wholesale water district that treats and delivers Folsom Lake surface water to CHWD; the most direct operational peer given the integrated supply relationship and overlapping Sacramento-area service territory.
• Sacramento Suburban Water District: Neighboring retail water utility serving Sacramento suburbs; comparable size, customer base, and operating model, and explicitly named in CHWD's ongoing water-rights litigation as the counterparty to SJWD's contested transfer.
• Fair Oaks Water District: Small retail water district whose service area overlaps with CHWD; comparable municipal water-utility model serving similar Sacramento-area residential customers.
• Carmichael Water District: Neighboring Sacramento-area water district with similar scale, governance structure, and customer base; directly comparable as a small California special district water utility.
• Rio Linda / Elverta Community Water District: Small Sacramento County community water district with comparable size, customer type, and California special-district governance model; directly comparable as a peer small municipal water utility.
• El Dorado Irrigation District: California special district providing water (and wastewater/irrigation) service in the greater Sacramento foothills region; comparable governance structure, retail water operations, and capital-intensive asset base.

Broad incumbents

• California Water Service Company (Cal Water): Largest investor-owned water utility in California with regulated retail water service across many districts; broader incumbent offering overlapping core water-delivery services at significantly greater scale.
• California American Water: Subsidiary of American Water providing regulated water service across multiple California districts; comparable core retail water utility but operating at much larger scale and as an investor-owned entity.
• Golden State Water Company: Investor-owned water utility serving numerous California communities under CPUC regulation; comparable regulated water-retail operations but with a much larger and more geographically diverse footprint.
• San Jose Water Company: Investor-owned California water utility serving the San Jose area; comparable regulated retail water delivery model with substantially larger scale and customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CHWaterDistrict
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCm5gveI3NDqqJ9W3HZhkjDQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/citrusheightswaterdistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chwd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Citrus Heights Water District