The Long Beach Water Department was established by a vote of the people in 1911.  In 1931, the Water Department was put under the direction of an independent, five-member Board of Water Commissioners.  That same year, the Water Department also became one of the founding member agencies of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD).

While the department has varied in both size and scope over the years, its primary responsibility continues to be supplying residents with a high-quality, reliable water supply that is cost-effective and affordable.