Fair Oaks Water District

What Fair Oaks Water District does

Fair Oaks Water District (FOWD) is a California special district water utility that supplies potable water and conservation services to approximately 37,000 residents in the Fair Oaks area of Sacramento County. Founded in 1917 (operations beginning around 1919) and governed by an elected board of directors, the district has operated continuously in the Fair Oaks Village for over 107 years and currently maintains the lowest water rates in the Sacramento region.

The district's core product is treated water supply and distribution, sourced approximately 70% from treated surface water purchased from the San Juan Water District and 30% from district-owned groundwater wells (including the New York and Northridge wells). Supporting infrastructure and services include fire hydrant readiness, water quality testing and reporting (Consumer Confidence Report), cross-connection control, a service line inventory, and a customer billing and payment portal powered by Invoice Cloud. Capital projects underway include the New York Groundwater Supply Well Phase II (target completion 2027), the Northridge Groundwater Storage and Extraction Facility Upgrade (construction started June 2025), and the FOWD Field Services Center corporation yard redevelopment. Conservation offerings include voluntary 20% reduction programs, landscape irrigation reviews, rebate programs, and CIMIS evapotranspiration data for irrigation scheduling.

FOWD is a non-tax-supported public utility that generates revenue exclusively through metered water service fees billed monthly to a captive residential and commercial ratepayer base within its exclusive service territory. Two of three board-approved rate adjustments were implemented in 2023 and 2024, with a third pending. The 2026 Annual Budget totals $18.6M. The district has been recognized for over 24 consecutive years of financial transparency by the Government Finance Officers Association and the State Controller's Office, and received Congressional, California Senate, and Sacramento County recognition for 45 years of distinguished service.

Name

Fair Oaks Water District

Legal name

Fair Oaks Water District

Website

https://fowd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fair Oaks Water District is a California special district that supplies potable water to approximately 37,000 residents in the Fair Oaks area of Sacramento County, maintaining the lowest rates in the Sacramento region and sourcing 70% treated surface water and 30% district-owned groundwater.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

Keywords

• Water utility services
• Potable water supply
• Water distribution
• Water conservation programs
• Public water district

Headquarters

HQ city

Fair Oaks Ranch

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Water Service Fees: Revenue generated from water service charges to residential and commercial customers in the Fair Oaks service area. The district has implemented rate adjustments in 2023 and 2024 and maintains the lowest water rates in the Sacramento region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Fair Oaks Water District is a California special district water utility that supplies potable water and distribution services to approximately 37,000 people in the Fair Oaks area of Sacramento County. The district's water supply is sourced approximately 70% from treated surface water purchased from San Juan Water District and 30% from district-owned groundwater wells. Core offerings include water supply and distribution, fire hydrant readiness, water quality testing and reporting, water conservation programs, and online billing services.

Product overview

Fair Oaks Water District operates as a special district providing water supply and distribution services to approximately 37,000 people in the Fair Oaks area of Sacramento County, California. The district's water supply comes from two primary sources: approximately 70% treated surface water purchased from the San Juan Water District and 30% groundwater pumped from district-owned wells. The infrastructure portfolio includes multiple groundwater wells (New York Well, Northridge Well, Skyway Well) and the FOWD Field Services Center (corporation yard). Core services include water supply and distribution, fire hydrant maintenance, water quality testing and reporting (Consumer Confidence Report), and water conservation programs. Customer-facing services include online billing and payment through Invoice Cloud, landscape irrigation reviews, rebate programs, and CIMIS evapotranspiration data for efficient irrigation. The district maintains its headquarters in Fair Oaks Village, having operated continuously in the area for over 107 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Supply and Distribution The district's core service providing adequate and reliable water supply to approximately 37,000 people, meeting customer water demand with approximately 70% treated surface water from San Juan Water District and 30% groundwater from district-owned wells.
• Fire Hydrant Readiness Services Fire hydrant maintenance and readiness services. FOWD provides fire hydrant readiness updates to ensure adequate fire suppression capabilities throughout the service area for residential and commercial customers.
• Water Conservation Programs Voluntary and mandatory water conservation programs including the request for 20% voluntary reduction in water use, landscape irrigation review, rebate programs, CIMIS evapotranspiration data usage, and water education for residential and commercial customers.
• Landscape Irrigation Review A water assessment program offered at no extra charge to customers to help optimize irrigation and reduce water waste for residential and commercial customers.
• Online Billing and Payment Services Customer billing and payment portal powered by Invoice Cloud, enabling account viewing, AutoPay enrollment, balance review, bill viewing/printing, and paperless billing options for FOWD customers.
• Water Quality Testing and Reporting Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), water flushing programs, valve exercise, cross-connection control, and service line inventory to ensure drinking water meets all standards for residential and commercial customers.
• Urban Water Management Plan Comprehensive planning document for water demand management and supply reliability in alignment with state requirements, used by the district and disclosed to the community.
• Rebate Programs Water conservation rebate programs offered by the district to encourage efficient water use among residential and commercial customers.
• CIMIS Evapotranspiration Data Service Evapotranspiration data service to help customers water more efficiently and reduce outdoor water waste through data-driven irrigation scheduling.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving approximately 37,000 people with water supply
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• San Juan Water DistrictcoreOthersSan Juan Water District is the primary supplier of treated surface water to Fair Oaks Water District, providing approximately 70% of the district's water supply. The remaining 30% comes from FOWD's own groundwater wells.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• California Water Service Group (Cal Water): Cal Water is the largest regulated water utility serving California, providing similar potable water service to a broad footprint of regulated service areas. While private and much larger, its regulatory and operational model for retail water service in California is directly comparable to FOWD.
• East Bay Municipal Utility District: EBMUD is a large California special district providing water and wastewater services in the East Bay area. While far larger than FOWD, it operates under the same California special district governance model and faces analogous regulatory, supply-mix, and infrastructure investment considerations.
• American Water Works Company: American Water is the largest publicly traded US water and wastewater utility, operating regulated water systems across multiple states. It is comparable as a regulated retail water utility facing similar infrastructure, regulatory, and rate-base dynamics as FOWD, though at vastly greater scale.
• Orange County Water District: Orange County Water District is a California special district focused on groundwater basin management. Comparable to FOWD in its emphasis on groundwater supply infrastructure investment, though at a much larger scale and with a primarily wholesale focus.
• Golden State Water Company: Golden State Water, a subsidiary of American States Water Company, provides regulated water service to more than 80 communities across California. It is directly comparable to FOWD in service model (regulated California water utility with a defined service area) and faces similar regulatory and rate-setting dynamics.

Direct peers

• San Juan Water District: San Juan Water District is FOWD's primary wholesale supplier, providing approximately 70% of treated surface water. As a neighboring California special district water utility, it operates under a similar regulatory and operational model, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Sacramento County Water Agency: Sacramento County Water Agency provides water and wastewater services to unincorporated areas of Sacramento County, overlapping with FOWD's broader service region. It is a comparable California public water utility operating under a similar special district / county framework.
• Rio Linda / Elverta Community Water District: Rio Linda / Elverta Community Water District is a small California special district in the Sacramento region providing retail water service. Comparable to FOWD in scale, customer base size, governance structure, and core service offering.
• Sacramento Suburban Water District: Sacramento Suburban Water District is a neighboring California special district providing retail water service in the Sacramento region. Highly comparable to FOWD in scale, governance (elected board), service mix (potable water to residential and commercial customers), and operating geography.

Others

• Invoice Cloud: Invoice Cloud is the billing and payment vendor used by FOWD to power its customer billing portal. Not a peer in the utility sense, but an ecosystem participant whose technology platform directly enables FOWD's recurring revenue collection and customer-facing digital services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fair-oaks-water-district

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Fair Oaks Water District