Mesa Consolidated Water District (Mesa) is located in a community that originated in about 1906. The first water system in the area was developed by the La Habra Valley Land and Water Company, which drilled the first well in 1910. In 1913 the Fairview Farms Mutual Water Company constructed a system for agricultural purposes and in 1918 the Newport Heights Irrigation District was formed to serve domestic and irrigation water. These two agencies acquired the facilities of the La Habra Water Company.
With continued growth in the early 1900s, the Newport Mesa Irrigation District and the Santa Ana Heights Water Company were created. Fairview Farms Mutual Water Company later became the Fairview County Water District; Newport Mesa Irrigation District became the Newport Mesa County Water District.
In 1953, the city of Costa Mesa became an incorporated city and in 1955, it created a municipal water system to serve the areas beyond the four existing district boundaries.
On June 30, 1959, the Governor of California signed Senate Bill 1375 (Costa Mesa District Merger Law), as introduced by Senator Murdy. On January 1, 1960, Mesa Consolidated Water District (formerly known as the Costa Mesa County Water District) commenced operations by acquiring the assets and obligations and assumed the responsibility of consolidating the city of Costa Mesa's Water Department, Fairview County Water District, Newport Heights Irrigation District, and Newport Mesa County Water District. The Santa Ana Heights Water Company was originally involved in merger discussions, but withdrew before consolidation.
Mesa set a precedent with this merger as the first California water agency to consolidate two or more water agencies and assume both their assets and debts.
Mesa is governed by a five-member Board of Directors. The service area is divided into five divisions. One individual from each division is publicly elected to serve a four-year term as a Director.
Mesa serves more than 100,000 people in an 18-square mile area including the City of Costa Mesa, part of Newport Beach, sections of unincorporated Orange County including the John Wayne Airport.
