Water Utilities
This page provides resources and sample documents for public water utilities in Washington State, including for small water systems.
Statutes and Regulations
Domestic water is provided by a number of local government entities in Washington State, as noted in the list of applicable statutes below. The Office of Drinking Water, located in the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), maintains the rules and regulations for all water systems. Water system classification requirements are clarified to prevent systems from being reclassified based solely on calculation methodology (RCW 70A.125.010).
- Ch. 35.92 RCW — Municipal Utilities
- Ch. 36.94 RCW — Sewerage, Water, and Drainage Systems
- Ch. 54.16 RCW — Powers of Public Utility Districts
- Ch. 57.08 RCW — Powers of Water-Sewer Districts
- RCW 87.03.015 — Powers of Irrigation Districts
- Ch. 70A.100 RCW — Public Water System Coordination Act of 1977
Fire Hydrant Service
The applicable law is Ch. 70A.145 RCW, which establishes and clarifies the authority of water purveyors to supply fire suppression water facilities and services for cities, towns, and counties, and to recover the costs of providing those facilities and services. A purveyor may allocate and recover the costs of fire suppression water facilities and services: (1) from all customers as costs of complying with state law and regulations; (2) from customers based on service, benefits, burdens, and impacts; or (3) both.
Water Rates
- DOH: Water Rates - Paying for Drinking Water (2011)
- King County Water District #90 Billing Procedures and Rates
- Lakehaven Water & Sewer District Water Rates
- Royal City Ordinance 25-03 (2026) — Sets water rates to be charged in the city; also see the city's Water Rates and ERU Table (2026)
Examples of Water Rate Studies
- Bainbridge Island Water and Sewer Rate Study (2019) — Includes ordinance 2019-14 adopting new rates
- Friday Harbor Water Rate Study & Connection Charge Study (2024)
- Kitsap County Public Utility District 2023 Utility Rate Study — Includes water rates; also see Resolution No. 23-11-14C amending utility rates
Planning
Resources
- DOH
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Examples of Local Comprehensive Water System Plans
- Bainbridge Island Water System Plan (2017)
- Issaquah Water System Plan (2018)
- Pasco Water System Plan (2019)
- Renton Water System Plan Update (2020)
- Seattle Public Utilities Water Plans — Includes 2019, 2013, and 2007 plans
- Yakima Water System Plan (2017)
Utility Billing and Collection
For information on utility billing – including utility billing procedures, financial assistance programs, property transfers, and collection of delinquent utility accounts – see our pages on Utility Billing.
List of Public Water Providers/Districts
For information on individual water providers in Washington State, see:
- DOH Drinking Water System Data — Lists public water systems
- Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts (WASWD) Members — Lists member water and wastewater districts; includes map of special purpose water-sewer districts in Washington
- Washington State Auditor Financial Intelligence Tool — Provides financial data on local governments and is searchable by government type
Water/Sewer District Mergers and Consolidations
Occasionally water and/or sewer districts may decide to join operations through consolidation or merger.
Consolidation results in both original districts ceasing to exist, and a new consolidated district comes into existence. The consolidation process is described in chapter 57.32 RCW.
A merger results in one district essentially taking over all the assets and territory of the other district, which then ceases to exist. The merger process is described in chapter 57.36 RCW.
Example of Agreements and Studies
- Annapolis Water District and Karcher Creek Sewer District Consolidation Agreement (2007) — Agreement to consolidate into a single West Sound Utility District. Includes adopting resolution requesting county auditor to call election, as well as earlier water district resolution supporting consolidation.
- Wahkiakum Public Utility District Water System Consolidation Study Report (2025) — Imagines a consolidation of the Town of Cathlamet's sewer and water systems with the Wahkiakum County PUD
Recommended Resources
This section contains general resources and links to organizations which are involved in all aspects of domestic water, from regulation to supply.
EPA
- Ground Water and Drinking Water
- National Drinking Water Advisory Council
- Technical, Managerial, and Financial Capacity Resources for Small Drinking Water Systems — Includes resources on a wide variety of subjects such as asset management, financing, regulations, and operation and maintenance.
Water and Utility Organizations
- Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts — Provides education, advocacy, and collaboration for special purpose water and sewer districts
- American Water Works Association
- Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA)
- Evergreen Rural Water of Washington — Provides training and technical assistance to small water and wastewater systems in Washington State.
- National Rural Water Association
Regional Water Providers and Associations
- Everett Water System — Provides water to Alderwood Water and Wastewater District, Snohomish County PUD, Marysville, Mukilteo Water and Wastewater District, Monroe, Snohomish, Silver Lake Water and Sewer District
- Cascade Water Alliance — Formed by Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, Tukwila, Sammamish Plateau Water, and Skyway Water & Sewer District; see Joint Agreement (2012)
- Seattle Public Utilities List of Wholesale Water Customers
- South King County Regional Water Association — Formed in 1995 between Auburn, Kent, Black Diamond, and King County Water District No. 111
- Tacoma Water — Provides water service to customers in Tacoma, University Place and portions of Pierce and South King counties
- Water Supply Forum — Formed to address current and future water supply issues for public water systems and local governments in the Central Puget Sound region
