Governmental Water Providers

Overview of Cities, Counties, and Special Districts That Provide Water

Cities

Cities are areas that have incorporated or come together to form a local government that has power to make rules and provide services for the people living in the city’s boundaries. Cities can provide water directly to people or have an entity, like a special district or a private company, provide the water. 

If a city provides the water itself, it must provide water to all areas that count as city property. This means that the city cannot ignore areas for water service.1 Commonly, a city will have a public works department to oversee water distribution. The city council and mayor oversee city policies overall, which include policy decisions on water services.

Counties

There are 58 counties in California, which include cities and surrounding land.

County Service Areas

County Service Areas are assessment districts formed by the county to provide specific services like water to unincorporated areas. County Service Areas are administered by county staff (traditionally Public Works or the Resource Management Agency) under the direction of the County Board of Supervisors.

Special Districts

Special districts are local public agencies that provide many of the same services as a city government. In many unincorporated communities, special districts are the only local governmental entities. This means that special districts might be the only public entities in the area responsible for providing drinking water. Each of California’s 58 counties has a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo), which oversees the formation of special districts, among other duties, within each county. Each county’s LAFCo must encourage the “orderly formation and development of local agencies” within the county.2

There are several different types of special districts that manage water in the California Water Code alone, but many – County Water Districts, Water Conservation Districts, California Water Districts, California Water Storage Districts, Reclamation Districts, and County Waterworks Districts – provide water supply for irrigation or flood control, not drinkable water to residents for consumption.3 Additionally, there are many other types of districts that can provide drinking water, such as County Sanitation Districts, but whose primary purpose is something else – like providing wastewater services.

In short, if your water provider is a special district that is not discussed in this Guide, ask your water provider or your LAFCo for a copy of the laws governing that district.

  • Click the links below to learn more about four common types of special districts that act as local water providers.

    • Irrigation Districts: (English / Español)

    • Community Services District: (English / Español)

    • Municipal Water Districts: (English/ Español)

    • Public Utility Districts: (English / Español)

  • There are also special districts that are formed by a unique legislative act that have authorities customized for a particular area. These are commonly referred to as special act districts and can be found here: California Special Acts Districts - Overview.

    County Water Works Districts: are special districts with the power to provide water for irrigation, domestic, industrial, or fire protection purposes. They are governed by the County Board of Supervisors, unless a Board of Directors has been appointed by the County Board of Supervisors.4

    County Water Districts:5 are regional districts whose purpose is to control water for any present or future beneficial use within the district. County Water Districts often do not provide potable water directly. A County Water District is governed by an elected Board of Directors, and any person registered to vote within the district.6

    County Sanitation Districts:7 may provide potable water, but often are formed to provide sewer or waste disposal services in specific regions. County Sanitation Districts’ Board of Directors (the groups that make decisions for the organization) are composed of representatives of cities or sanitation districts within these regional districts, and a member of the County Board of Supervisors if the district includes unincorporated areas.

This Page Last Updated: May 13, 2024