Pierce County expands its water utility

Pierce County expanded the Water Utility to strengthen its ability to promote public health and responsible stewardship of water supplies.

Pierce County Ordinance No. O2024-532, which codifies the expansion, was passed by the Pierce County Council on Aug. 6 and signed by Executive Bruce Dammeier on Aug. 13.

Pierce County is already the owner and operator of the water system at the Tacoma Narrows Airport, which serves all airport operations and services. 

Pierce County was also appointed as the receiver of the Kapowsin Water District in 2017, after a failed water transmission line required the trucking of water to the 40 residential customers of the water system while repairs were made. The ordinance gives the Water Utility authority to acquire the Kapowsin Water District and end the receivership.

The expanded Water Utility will continue to preserve County-owned water rights at the Chambers Creek Properties, which were purchased in the 1990s for expansion of the Chambers Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The Water Utility will also manage the reclaimed water resources from both the Cascadia and the Chambers Creek Regional wastewater treatment plants. The use of reclaimed water supports irrigation while preserving drinking water resources where they are truly needed.

The regional Water Utility will now be able to own water systems throughout the county. Drinking water systems can face challenges to maintain aging infrastructure, meet federal and state regulations, find adequate members to serve on managing associations or boards and remain affordable for rate payers. Systems will now be able to approach the Water Utility to potentially assume ownership, avoiding receiverships and easing potential burdens on their rate payers.

For more information, visit PierceCountyWa.gov/WaterUtility.