On August 6, the Pierce County Council passed an ordinance to expand the county’s water system to better serve residents and meet future water needs. Here’s what it means for the community.

Extended services: The county will update its regulations to allow the water utility to provide public water services and establish a consultation process for possible future acquisitions of other public water systems.

New water supply fund: A new fund has been established to manage the finances of these expanded water services.

Financial support: To finance the expansion, the water utility will have access to a $635,000 loan from the Sewer Utility Fund.

Acquisition of Kapowsin Water District: Pierce County will officially take over the Kapowsin Water District, which has been temporarily under county management since 2017.

These changes will take effect on September 1. The Council approved Ordinance No. O2024-532 after the proposed water utility and a financing plan for it were previously presented to the Economic and Infrastructural Development Committee (EIDC). The committee held a public hearing on Tuesday, July 9 and recommended the adoption of the ordinance.

The county’s water utility was originally created in 1998 to manage water resources in Chambers Creek. The county also recently took over the water system at Tacoma Narrows Airport. The expansion of the water utility will help Pierce County preserve its water rights and potentially provide water services to more residents in the future.

The ordinance will now go to the County Executive for signature. After approving the expansion, the County Council plans to address other issues such as setting water rates, implementing new systems such as reclaimed water in Chambers Bay, and possibly offering wholesale water services.

Chantelle Harmon Reed, director of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, praised the advice.

“Reliable water and wastewater infrastructure supports health equity and is consistent with our mission to protect and improve the health of all people and places in Pierce County. We commend the Pierce County Council’s commitment to protecting the health of residents, no matter where they live.”