Water has always been hard to come by in Laguna Beach for the simple reason that there has always been so little of if around. Early settlers had to bring it in by the barrel, catch and save what they could when rain fell, and worry about where the next drop would come from.

Until the early 1920’s, residents relied on a few privately-owned shallow wells in Laguna Canyon for their water supply. But in 1924, the growth of the village had been so rapid that the water system, owned and operated by the Skidmore brothers, could not produce an adequate supply. The heavy pumping exhausted the surface supply and soon saltwater intrusion and well failure forced the brothers to announce that water service would be discontinued.

Conditions were so bad that many residents drove to the old county well in Laguna Canyon for drinking and cooking water. The demand was so great in the summer months that residents had to wait for hours before they could draw water. As many as 50 cars at one time would be seen near the pump. Something had to be done, as summer trade in the village was threatened.

The District is rich with historical events that have been pivotal in changing the way Laguna Beach receives its water supply. Below are photos of our early years.