Abstract: A rapid-response water heating and delivery system for quickly and accurately heating water to a selected set point temperature within a predetermined temperature range, and for maintaining the selected set point temperature of the water for a wide range of volumetric flow rates and for a wide range of initial water temperatures. The heating and delivery system includes a water vessel containing electrical heating elements for heating the water flowing through the vessel and a control unit automatically operable to control the supply of electrical energy to the electrical heating elements, taking into account the actual temperature of the water being discharged from the vessel, the selected set point temperature called for, and the rate at which the actual temperature of the water being discharged from the vessel changes with respect to the selected set point temperature so that the temperature of the water flowing through the vessel quickly approaches the selected set point temperature.