The university is affiliated with the Province of Henan, and co-sponsored by the provincial government and the Ministry of Water Resources.
In 1969, the university moved to Yuecheng Reservoir, Cixian County, Hebei Province.
In 1971, the university was renamed Hebei Water Conservancy and Hydropower College.
In 1977, the university was relocated to Bengbu, Hebei, and in 1978 was renamed as the North China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower.
In 2009, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Henan Provincial Government signed a strategic agreement to jointly build the North China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower.