Originally known as S.G.M., the band's members met while students at The Bush School. The band lineup changed in 1990, and included Adam Czeisler, vocals, Rich Credo, lead guitar, Cole Peterson, rhythm guitar, Dudley Taft, Bass and Paul Uhlir, Drums. Garnering acclaim for their debut Ter, the band was subsequently signed in 1992 by Jason Flom, and Will Carson of Atlantic Records and released a self-titled album, Sweet Water produced by Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Dashboard Confessional, Lit, Pearl Jam) and mixed by Tim Palmer (Mother Love Bone, Pearl Jam, Tin Machine, Robert Plant). The band were then signed to Elektra Records subsidiary East-West, and they recorded a follow-up record Superfriends with Dave Jerden (Alice in Chains, Jane's Addiction) producing. Guitarist Taft was fired during the recording of Superfriends and the classic Sweet Water sound took shape with Rich Credo as sole Guitarist. Jerden returned to produce Suicide for Tom Zutaut of EMI imprint The Enclave. Suicide was eventually released in conjunction with Good-Ink records in 1999.
Members of the band engaged in various side-projects as well, including Peterson's work as Bassist for Calm Down Juanita with Tyler Willman and Kevin Guess on their eponymous first studio album, Calm Down Juanita, released in 1998. The band spent 2000-2006 on a self-imposed hiatus, releasing no new music and playing no shows. 2007 saw their return to the stage and various rock websites reported an album in the works.
The band continues to tour and perform select shows: notable among them an Australian tour with Iggy Pop in Jan 2009. A 2008 tour with Stone Temple Pilots was rumored to be a debacle with Bassist Cole Peterson publicly calling Scott Weiland a "little crybaby". Peterson and Weiland were reported to have settled their feud over coffee and muffins at Seattle's Caffe Vita. Notable Seattle Drummer Chris Friel replaced Paul Uhlir in 2009, and has been a mainstay in the group since that time.
2012 and 2013 saw more creative output from the band, with the 2012 release of a single entitled "Hey Living" with the b-side "Get High Clover" and an accompanying video for the b-side. The 5 song "Dance Floor Kills" EP followed in April 2013. Both releases are on the dual Fin Records/Golden City Records imprint, with Fin handling physical product and Golden City handling digital.
In November 2015, Sweet Water returned to the stage with a one-off performance at Seattle's Benaroya Hall. The show was Sweet Water's first performance with a full orchestra, and was notable for the unique on stage collaboration with Seattle singer Shawn Smith,
