Prior to the year 1986 there were three prestigious Institutions regulating the professional side of the water industry.

These were the Institution of Public Health Engineers, the Institute of Water Pollution Control and the Institution of Water Engineers and Scientists.

In 1986 these Institutions, that had a history dating back to the l9th century and whose activities had set world standards for their professions, merged to create the Institution of Water and Environmental Management (IWEM) latterly (CIWEM) under Royal Charter in 1995. This farsighted merger enabled the best brains in the industry to get together to plan and pursue their new role in a rapidly changing world.

At a meeting at the Institution Civil Engineers on the 18th April 1988, certain senior members of IWEM resolved that the image of the industry and its professional aspirations would be further enhanced by the setting up of a Guild. Thus was laid the foundation stone of the Guild of Water Conservators. Leading members of industry were invited to join and when the membership reached 120, the Guild with the assistance of Alderman Sir Christopher Leaver GBE, past Lord Mayor of London 1981/82 and Deputy Chairman at the time of Thames Water Plc, petitioned the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen at Guildhall in the City of London to be recognised as a City Company without Grant of Livery. On Tuesday 11th January 1994 formal recognition by the City of London was forthcoming and the Guild of Water Conservators became the Company of Water Conservators.

In the latter part of 1999, the Company successfully petitioned the Court of Aldermen of the City of London to be granted Livery Status. Accordingly on the 1st January 2000 the Company of Water Conservators became the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators and the 102nd Livery Company in order of precedence. This put it alongside other existing Livery Companies whose Grant of Livery dates back in some cases to the Middle Ages.