William Mulholland (September 11, 1855 – July 22, 1935) was the head of a predecessor department to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. He was responsible for building the city water infrastructure and providing a water supply that allowed the city to grow into one of the largest in the world. Mulholland supervised the building of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, a 233-mile (375 km)-long system to move water from Owens Valley to the San Fernando Valley. The creation and operation of the aqueduct led to the disputes known as the California Water Wars. In March of 1928, his career ended when the St. Francis Dam failed 12 hours after he and his assistant gave it a safety inspection.
Read more about William Mulholland: Early Life, Initial Career in Los Angeles, Water Superintendent, Owens Valley, St. Francis Dam Collapse, Later Life, Legacy, In Popular Culture