Decoto gets a Water System

In 1919, the Citizen's Water Company of Niles was interested in extending its water lines from Niles and connecting to Decoto to serve the Decoto residents.  They approached the Railroad Commission for permission to extend into Decoto and to borrow funds for that purpose.  At that time, the Railroad Commission managed public utilities, like a water company.  The Railroad Commission was later named to the Public Utilities Commission, where it still has the same duties.

The Railroad Commission approved the plan of the Citizen's Water Company to issue $10,000 in stock, to borrow $5,000 from the Bank of Centerville, and to extend it's line from Niles to Decoto, purchasing a water line from J. C. Shinn to accomplish this.

At the time of it's application to the Railroad Commission, the Citizen's Water Company had 69 written requests for connection to their system from Decoto residents.  The water rates for Decoto was the same as the rates for Niles, with a minimum fee of $1.50 per month.

They laying of a water line allowed better water access for Decoto and allowed the installation of fire hydrants, something that the Decoto Fire District needed.