1945
After World War II, Ben Duke, Hugh Lawson and Walter Weight perceived the need for a local waterworks distributor in Southern California. These three gentlemen, who each had extensive backgrounds in the water industry, formed the first waterworks distributor in Southern California located in Los Angeles, CA.
1956
After buying out his partners, Ben Duke becomes the sole owner of Western Water Works. The Company moves to a larger location in South El Monte, CA.
1970
Ben Duke passes away, leaving majority ownership with his wife Ethel Duke. As a trained accountant, Ethel managed the company's books since inception and helped shaped the company's culture of integrity and financial prudence. As a woman business owner, she was a role model and pioneer in an industry that was dominated by men.
1995
Ethel Duke retires at the age of 89. Control of the Company is then passed to her nephew and grand nephew.
2000
Beginning in the late 1990s, the Company's focus shifts to premier pipeline contractor sales as a key growth driver, leveraging the product expertise and relationships developed over several decades from its established utility sales business. In 2000, the Company opens a new flagship location in Chino, CA. This move significantly increased capacity and provided better access to the Inland Empire market, a hot bed of new construction development.
2006
To support the unprecedented growth, the Company opens the centralized sales support center in Chino Hills, CA.
2008
In the midst of the Great Recession, rather than downsize and perform layoffs, the Company commits its excess capacity to geographical expansion. As a first step, the Company opens a new branch in El Cajon, CA to supply contractors in the San Diego market.
2011
For the first time, the Company expands outside of Southern California, opening a new branch in Salt Lake City, UT. With strong demographics and a robust economy, the Utah market was identified as an opportunity for future growth.
2015
Western Water Works becomes a 100% Employee Owned Company (ESOP). The people of Western Water Works now have a vested interest in success.
2016
To support the continued development and growth in the Low Desert region, the Company opens its doors in Coachella, CA.
2016
As a show of our commitment to the Utah market, the Company opens a new branch in Provo, UT. From this location, we can quickly service the needs of any contractor in Utah County.
2017
After outgrowing our South El Monte and Norwalk locations, we combined them into a new branch in Santa Fe Springs, CA. Our largest CA facility, this warehouse significantly increased our ability to service Los Angeles and Orange County.
2020
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, while industry competitors were furloughing staff and reducing capacity, Western Water Works opened a new branch in Tualatin, OR to support the Portland market. With over 130 pipe bays, and an advanced warehouse racking and inventory management system, the Tualatin facility sets a new standard for the Company and demonstrates our commitment to the PNW region.
2023
As a show of our commitment to the Portland-Vancouver region, the Company opens a new branch in Vancouver, WA. Our largest and most advanced facility yet, this location is dedicated to the Washington side of the greater metro area.