El Dorado Irrigation District is a water utility serving nearly 100,000 residents in northern California’s El Dorado County. A scenic drive along Highway 50, heading east from the Sacramento County line to South Lake Tahoe, takes you through the heart of EID’s service area and gives you an overview of the extraordinary geographic diversity of the region.

Water has been and continues to be an undeniable force in shaping the economic, ecological and cultural face of our county. From the earliest days of habitation by American Indians to the discovery of gold in Coloma that sparked the California gold rush, from clusters of black oak and manzanita to pine forests in the Sierra Nevada range, from abundant vineyards and orchards to growing population centers — water is the essential link.

EID customer needs are as broad ranging as the area’s diversity. We provide drinking water for homes, schools and businesses and recycled water from our wastewater treatment plants to irrigate front and backyards and public landscapes. We operate a hydroelectric power project that includes dams, reservoirs and 23 miles of flumes, canals, siphons and tunnels and that was relicensed in 2006 for 40 years.

We own and manage several outdoor recreation sites, including Sly Park Recreation Area near Pollock Pines and a 48-unit campground at Silver Lake.

In all we do, we strive to meet or exceed federal and state standards for water quality, environmental protection and wildlife habitat.

History
EID was formally organized in 1925 under California’s Irrigation District Law (Water Code §§ 20500 et seq.). We hold water rights that date back to the gold rush days, and we continue to work on securing and maintaining a reliable water supply to meet the growing needs of our customers. Through negotiations with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, we acquired Jenkinson Lake at Sly Park in late 2003. We have water service contracts with the Bureau and a water right for diversion from Folsom Reservoir that was awarded in 2001 by the State Water Resources Control Board. And our recycled water, agriculture irrigation management and water efficiency programs help our customers conserve water and thus contribute to the overall water supply.

Today, EID’s facilities and delivery infrastructure for drinking water include 1,200 miles of pipeline, 40 miles of ditches, 6 treatment plants, 33 storage reservoirs and 21 pumping stations. Our wastewater treatment system operates 58 lift stations, 300 miles of pipeline and 5 treatment facilities. The El Dorado Hills and Deer Creek wastewater treatment plants produce 2,500 acre-feet of recycled water each year — water that is used to irrigate front and back yards at more than 3,000 homes as well as commercial and public landscapes.