Groundbreaking Marks New Chapter for Tombstone Water System

Groundbreaking Marks New Chapter for Tombstone Water System

Posted on May 30, 2025

The community of Tombstone, a small unincorporated area just outside of Sanger in Fresno County, is now one step closer to accessing safe, reliable drinking water. On May 13, residents, local and state officials, and project partners gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Tombstone Water System Consolidation Project—a $5 million, state-funded initiative that will connect 40 homes in Tombstone to the City of Sanger’s public water system. 

The event was attended by representatives from the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the City of Sanger, community-based organizations, and drinking water advocates. Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) was also present, with Community Development Assistant Director Eva Dominguez offering remarks on behalf of the organization: 

   “Consolidations are never easy, and this project was only possible because of the contributions of and collaboration between all the different partners involved and the commitment and passion from community leaders and residents. We are excited to have reached this milestone and that the community will soon have safe and reliable drinking water.”

SHE is especially grateful for the partnership of Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability (LCJA), who initiated the project and invited SHE to collaborate, helping shape a shared effort to bring lasting water access to the Tombstone community. 

SHE has supported the Tombstone community since 2019, providing technical assistance and emergency services through multiple departments. The organization’s Community Development team played a central role in the planning process, helping complete engineering work and submitting a State Water Resources Control Board construction application. The team has also continued to provide community outreach and water well sampling throughout the project timeline. 

Additionally, SHE’s Emergency Services team provided direct relief to residents by delivering hauled water, installing storage tanks, and distributing bottled water to every household in Tombstone during times of acute need. 

For years, Tombstone residents have relied on aging private wells —many of which have failed or run dry—leaving families without consistent access to clean drinking water. Water usage in the community has been limited to essential needs only, such as cooking, bathing, and cleaning. This long-awaited project will bring much-needed relief. 

This project is more than infrastructure—it’s a critical step toward equity, health, and long-term resilience. It also stands as a milestone in California’s broader efforts to ensure the Human Right to Water. Tombstone is the historic site where Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 200 in 2019, establishing the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund, which now provides $130 million annually through 2030 to support water access in underserved communities.

The City of Sanger has played a vital role throughout the project, applying for and securing grant funding, waiving surcharges typically levied on customers outside its service area, and helping to adapt the project design to navigate right-of-way challenges posed by private property lines.

Construction is set to begin in the coming weeks, with completion expected by early next year. Once finished, Tombstone households will be connected to the City of Sanger’s municipal water system—restoring consistent, safe water access to dozens of families.