After a destructive fire swept through what is now Old Town, a group of citizens organized to build a water tank and drill a well in 1893. Those actions were the start of both the Elk Grove Water District (EGWD) and the Cosumnes CSD Fire Department. Within a few years, the water service was purchased by a local family. The Elk Grove Water Works served privately until 1999, when it was purchased by
the Florin Resource Conservation District (FRCD). The name was first changed to the Elk Grove Water Service and then eventually to the Elk Grove Water District. The EGWD provides water through a series of groundwater wells and a treatment and storage facility on Railroad Street. Additionally, a second treatment facility located on Hampton Oak Drive was rehabilitated and is supplementing community water needs. In addition, EGWD has a long term agreement with the Sacramento County Water Agency to purchase additional water supplies. About 30 employees work for EGWD, governed by a five-member, publicly elected, Board of Directors.
