Contra Costa Water District Celebrates 90 Years by Contra Costa Water District Jun 1, 2026 Member Submitted News Efforts to secure a reliable supply of high quality water in Contra Costa County began in the early 1900s as farmers and community leaders worked to address declining water quality amid a prolonged drought and changing Delta conditions. Those efforts culminated in support from President Franklin D. Roosevelt for the Central Valley Project and led to the incorporation of Contra Costa Water District in 1936. Ninety years later, CCWD now delivers high‑quality drinking water to approximately 550,000 people across central and eastern Contra Costa County – while remaining grounded in the public‑service values that shaped its beginning. “As we mark this milestone, we’re reminded that CCWD was built on innovation, collaboration and long‑term planning,” said CCWD Board President Ernesto Avila. Building a Water System for the Community CCWD was established to bring dependable, high quality water supplies from the Sacramento‑San Joaquin Delta to central and eastern Contra Costa County, supporting agriculture and, over time, a rapidly urbanizing region. Early investments in conveyance and treatment facilities laid the foundation for a system designed to grow and adapt alongside the communities it serves. Over the decades, CCWD’s mission expanded beyond water delivery to include water quality protection, watershed stewardship, and collaboration with regional and state partners. Innovation Through the Decades Like numerous water agencies throughout California, CCWD has navigated cycles of drought, regulatory change, and population growth. Meeting these challenges has required ongoing innovation – from advances in water treatment and monitoring to investments in system reliability and emergency preparedness. A long‑standing focus on source water protection and Delta partnerships has helped safeguard supplies while balancing environmental needs. Over the past 25 years, CCWD built and expanded the Los Vaqueros Reservoir to improve water quality and provide emergency supplies. More recently, CCWD has advanced critical initiatives like the Canal Replacement Program, which will modernize infrastructure while enhancing climate resilience and safeguarding water quality through a fully enclosed, buried pipeline. “We have a responsibility to not only deliver reliable water today, but to undertake the thoughtful planning needed to advance the Canal Replacement Program to ensure reliable water for decades to come,” said CCWD General Manager Rachel Murphy. People at the Center of the Mission Behind every milestone are the public servants who carry CCWD’s mission forward. Across technical, operational, and administrative roles, CCWD staff have served generations of customers with a shared commitment to safety, transparency, and accountability. Equally important are the communities CCWD serves, whose engagement and trust remain central to decision‑making. Looking Ahead to the Next 90 Years While a 90th anniversary invites reflection and celebration, CCWD is also focused on the future. Investing in infrastructure and maintaining reliability across California’s increasingly complex water landscape requires collaboration, innovation, and long‑term planning. As it enters its tenth decade, Contra Costa Water District continues to invest in sustainable solutions that protect water quality, ensure reliability, and support regional resilience – building on 90 years of service while preparing for tomorrow.
