Today the Hawthorne Water Department grosses over $500,000 annually; $400,000 is used for normal operation and maintenance with the remaining $100,000 earmarked for capital improvement.

Over the past ten years over one million dollars has been invested in a capital improvement program to replace inadequate and deteriorated water mains, provide transmission mains and storage facilities. Construction phases covering transmission and storage have been completed and the water main replacement program is nearing the half-way mark.

Objectives of the water main replacement program were (1) elimination of obsolete pipes from the system with the end result a reduction of maintenance; (2) improvement of service to the consumer through installation of pipes large enough to maintain constant high pressure both for domestic consumption and for fire fighting; (3) return of rear yard easements to property owners (now complete); and (4) to finance all water main replacements with current water department revenue. Target date for completion of present capital improvement program in the water department is 1972.

1924 Fire Department

A second fire station was built in 1942 at 138 Plaza Square and two full-time firemen were employed as a part of the police department. The original station at the same location was then converted into city council chambers and a municipal courtroom. The first full-time fire chief was appointed in 1953, and in 1954-55 two additional fire engines were purchased. The Plaza station was demolished in 1969 and new modern headquarters built at 4475 West El Segundo Boulevard. The present personnel consist of a fire chief, 2 battalion chiefs, 44 regular firemen and 10 volunteer firemen and dispatchers. The efficiency of our fire department is best indicated by the fact that fire insurance rates have decreased more than 60% during the past 20 years.

In 1942, our 20th anniversary, Hawthorne's assessed valuation reached an all time high of $7,622,000, a 70% increase over the previous year. Ten years later, in 1952, assessed valuation had increased to $21 million, and by 1962 reached the astounding figure of $85 million. This item alone is descriptive of the immense progress achieved since 1940.