San Jose Water Company history

In December 1868, San Jose Water was reincorporated and its capital stock increased to $300,000, the extra funds needed to build the company's first reservoirs.

The Seven-Mile Reservoir was completed in 1870, followed a year later by the Three-Mile Reservoir.

Also in 1871, the Tisdale Reservoir, named for local banker William Tisdale opened.

Lake Williams Reservoir opened in 1895 under Tisdale's watch.

Water from this and other streams fed a plentiful artesian belt around San Jose, and starting in 1903 San Jose Water began digging wells to tap into for additional water supplies to meet its growing need.

1913: The company is reorganized as San Jose Water Works.

In 1928, Ryland added another 300 customers through the purchase of Willow Glen Water Works.

In 1929, General Water Works and Electric Company bought a controlling interest in San Jose Water for $5.1 million, but management remained unchanged and the company carried on as before.

The most notable deal was the 1936 purchase of the entire town of Wrights, located in the Santa Cruz mountains.

After San Jose Water gained its independence from General Water in 1945, Elsman placed it on a more secure financial footing by reorganizing the company and taking it public.

In 1968, Nathaniel Kendall, the company's chief engineer who had been responsible for the construction of the Austrian Dam, succeed Elsman as president of San Jose Water.

1974: J.W. Weinhardt is named president.

In July 1985, SJW acquired San Jose Water in a stock exchange, with the stock of the holding company now trading on the American Stock Exchange in place of San Jose Water.

SJW held onto the company until 1995 when Western Precision's management team bought the business for $2 million.

In the meantime, Weinhardt stepped down as chief executive in 1999, replaced by W. Richard Roth, although he remained as chairman.

2001: Crystal Choice Water Service is launched.