Cerro Villa Mutual Water Company (Calif.)

Historical Background

Organizational History

The Serrano Irrigation District in Orange County, California developed out of a consolidation of several water companies and associations established as early as the 1870s. These mutual irrigation organizations were privately owned by ranchers and farmers in the Villa Park, California area. In 1927 the Serrano Water Association, the John T. Carpenter Water Company, and the Irvine Company agreed to form the Serrano Irrigation District as a public corporation under the Irrigation Districts Act of the State of California. This enabled the district to hold elections to establish bonds to finance their share of the construction of the Santiago Dam. At this time, the assets of the Serrano Water Association, which included landowners from both the Gray Tract and Lotspeich Tract, were assigned to the Serrano Irrigation District.

In 1928 the Villa Park Mutual Water Company absorbed the consolidated Gray Tract Well Company, Cerro Villa Mutual Water Company, and the Santiago Well Company. Beginning in 1956, the Serrano Irrigation District agreed to carry out all of the functions of the Villa Park Mutual Water Company. In 1963 the Villa Park Mutual Water Company was officially dissolved, and the Serrano Irrigation District agreed to continue furnishing water to the shareholders of the Villa Park Mutual Water Company. As irrigation decreased and urbanization increased in the 1960s, the Serrano Irrigation District built a filtering plant and additional reservoirs to facilitate the use of water received from the Irvine Lake.

The Serrano Irrigation District is now called the Serrano Water District and is an independent governmental body serving the city of Villa Park and a small portion of the city of Orange.

• 1870s: Serrano Water Association began operations.
• 1907: Gray Tract Water Company was established.
• 1910: Serrano Water Association adopted articles of association specifying that it was an "association" rather than a corporation.
• 1912: Gray Tract Well Company was established.
• 1914: Serrano Water Association members signed petition to oppose becoming a corporation.
• 1915: Lotspeich Water Association was established.
• 1918: Santiago Well Company was established.
• 1927 July 25: Serrano Irrigation District was incorporated.
• 1928: Villa Park Mutual Water Company absorbed the consolidated Gray Tract Well Company, Cerro Villa Mutual Water Company, and the Santiago Well Company.
• 1931: Santiago Dam and Reservoir (Irvine Lake) was completed. First domestic water system of Villa Park was funded in 1931 after the residents approved a bond issue to provide water service to one house on each ten acres.
• 1956: Serrano Irrigation District agreed to assume all the functions of the Villa Park Mutual Water Company.
• 1963: Villa Park Mutual Water Company was dissolved. Serrano Irrigation District agreed to continue furnishing water to the Villa Park Mutual Water Company shareholders.

From the guide to the Serrano Irrigation District records, 1871-1973, (University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.)