In addition to providing a very fine service for residents, the Hawthorne Water Department enjoys an excellent visual image. The light green elongated mushroom-shaped water storage tank which looms 123 feet above the city has become a familiar landmark to residents of the Centinela-South Bay.

The City of Hawthorne derives its water supply from four deep wells and one connection to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. All local well water is subjected to water softening and chlorination at the water treatment at 210 North Ramona Avenue. The system has treated after storage capacity of 8,682,000 gallons in the elevated steel tank and five ground level storage tanks.

The water system was started in 1924 with the purchase by the city of the assets of the Hawthorne Electric and Power Company. In 1925 the raw water reservoir, an elevated steel tank and two booster units were installed. The water was pumped to the aerator, then to the raw water reservoir, and then boosted directly into the distribution system. Except for drilling additional wells, the water system remained essentially the same until 1941, when the present rapid sand filtration plant was constructed. The original capacity of the plant was 1.3 million gallons per day.

Because of the rapid growth of the city, the capacity of the water treatment plant soon became inadequate and in 1945 a hydro-treator, an up-flow unit, was added to the plant. This addition increased the capacity of the treatment works to four million gallons. It soon became necessary to increase the filtering capacity of the plant also, and four additional rapid sand filters were constructed along with another 50,000 gallon clear well.

From 1946 to 1954 four new wells were drilled. In 1958, the present 250,000 gallon elevated tank was erected. Reservoirs 1, 2, 3, and 4 were added to the system in 1954. These tanks are located just south of the water treatment plant. Each has a capacity of 1,858,000 gallons. The tanks are 24 feet high and 116 feet in diameter. The tanks are tied together in such a manner that they act as one unit but can be used independently of one another by means of valves. All tanks are screened, ventilated and provided with cathodic protection. Reservoir No. 5 has a one-million gallon capacity and is located just east of the softening plant. The tank is 16 feet high, circular in shape, and of concrete construction.