When Sahuaro Ranch was built and for some years afterward, its owners had to provide water and electricity themselves, often at great expense. Drinking water came from a groundwater well in the back yard of the Main House, beneath what is now the wood-frame rear addition. In 1898, when that addition was built, the well was enclosed and storage tanks and a windmill were erected on the roof, giving the Main and Guest Houses indoor plumbing well before most other Arizonans enjoyed such a luxury. Electricity came later, and sometime around 1901 a gasoline generator is believed to have been installed to supply power for lights and fans in the two houses. After the Smith family took over the ranch in 1927, they built the Pump House and installed a generator that produced all the electricity used on the farm. Today Sahuaro Ranch receives its drinking water from the City of Glendale, the well inside has been covered and is no longer usable, and electricity is supplied by SRP, which began service to the ranch around 1930.