Seattle (Wash.). Water Dept.

A public waterworks was created by City Charter Amendment in 1875. However, Seattle was served primarily by small private water companies for the next decade and a half. Following the Great Fire of 1889, citizens voted to fund creation of a municipally owned water system. The City purchased the private systems, and since 1891, has owned and operated a municipal water system. The City began developing the Cedar River Watershed and contracting with outside communities (such as Ballard and Renton) for the sale and provision of water to those communities. The system was administered by the Superintendent of Water under the auspices of the Board of Public Works. In 1905 the Department of Lighting and Water Works was created. Five years later, the Water Department became a separate entity. In 1952, development of the Tolt River as a secondary water source was recommended; this development took place in the 1960s. In 1997 the Water Department was consolidated with the utilities of the Engineering Department to form Seattle Public Utilities.

From the guide to the Creek Photographs & Slides, 1987-1999, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

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