Tacoma Public Utilities, established in 1893, stands out as the oldest publicly owned utility in the state of Washington offering exceptional water, power, and rail services [^1^]. This write-up offers an all-inclusive review of Tacoma Public Utilities Water, from its sources to its quality, monitoring, distribution, conservation, and customer service.
A Reliable Water Source
Tacoma’s water comes from the Green River, found in the Cascade Range watershed. This water flows from the foothills all the way to Tacoma, where it serves roughly 316,000 citizens in the town and its suburbs [^2^]. The water’s source, the Green River, is in the remote and highly protected areas of Tacoma Watershed, ensuring the water’s high quality and safety.
The Howard Hanson Dam, built by the Corp of Engineers, also holds a significant reservoir of the Green River water accessed during peak use times in the summer. With these reliable water sources, Tacoma Public Utilities ensures a consistent water supply throughout the year.
Uncompromised Water Quality
Tacoma Public Utilities is committed to supplying water that is not only safe but also of the highest quality. To this end, the regulatory body employs rigorous treatment and monitoring processes compliant with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State Department of Health drinking water regulations [^3^].
The Tacoma water treatment plant boasts state-of-the-art equipment to remove possible pollutants and mitigate harmful byproducts. This precedes a disinfection step, after which the water is pumped into the distribution system. It is performed this way to maintain top-notch drinking water quality for Tacoma residents and businesses.
Robust Water Distribution
Tacoma Public Utilities operates a vast water distribution network. It manages more than 1,200 miles of pipes, varying from residential to main lines, to distribute water throughout the Tacoma service area. The utility replaces an average of nine miles of water mains annually and maintains service standards by conducting water main repairs, leak detections, and handling backflow prevention measures.
Water Conservation
Tacoma Public Utilities is dedicated to helping their customers conserve water. It provides resources for residential, commercial, and industrial customers to learn about wise water use. The utility also provides rebates for installing water-efficient products and appliances and hosts workshops and learning programs focused on water conservation.
Customer-Oriented Service
Beyond the excellent water services provided, Tacoma Public Utilities also shines when it comes to customer service. It ranks well for its robust payment systems and efficient customer management processes. Whether it’s an inquiry related to water rates or a request for assistance with water meters, the Utility team is always ready and willing to help.
The Tacoma utility’s customer service extends as far as providing services to help detect water leaks in homes, supporting new service installations, and offering water conservation tips and tools. There’s a 24/7 hotline for issues related to water quality, leaks, and other after-hour emergencies, envisaging an environment where all customer concerns are promptly addressed.
Conclusion
From its pristine water sources in the Green River through to its rigorous treatment processes and robust distribution system, Tacoma Public Utilities delivers high-quality water to all its customers. Ensuring its water availability while promoting conservation and excellent customer service highlights its commitment to the Tacoma community.
In essence, Tacoma Public Utilities Water is more than just a service – it’s a promise to the citizens of the Tacoma Service Area to provide quality, sustainable, and accessible water. It consistently fulfills anyone’s residential, commercial, or industrial water service needs with a service quality that aims to exceed expectations, every time.
[^1^]: City of Tacoma – Tacoma Public Utilities. URL: “https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_departments/utilities”.
[^2^]: My Tacoma Water. URL: “https://www.mytpu.org/tacoma-water”.
[^3^]: Tacoma Water – Water Quality Report. URL: “https://www.mytpu.org/wp-content/uploads/tacoma-water-Quality-report.pdf”.
