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)

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 began development of the Cedar River Watershed, and since 1891, has owned and operated a municipal water system. 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. Most of the water used by the Seattle Water Department came from the Cedar River Watershed property, which also provided income for the department through the selling of logging rights. Several timber companies including Weyerhaeuser Company, Scott Paper Company and Pacific States Lumber Company, all had contracts with the Water Department. In the 1950s, Seattle voters chose to add fluoride to the city's water supply and charged the Water Department with the task of fluoridating. The election was a close one, however, and debate over the policy lasted into the '70s. In 1997 the Water Department was consolidated with the utilities of the Engineering Department to form Seattle Public Utilities.

From the guide to the Seattle Water Department Superintendent's Correspondence, 1891-1995, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

From the guide to the Seattle Water Department Central Files, 1889-1987, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

From the guide to the Seattle Water Department Northern Tier Pipeline Records, 1973-1983, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

From the guide to the Seattle Water Department Water System Services Records, 1958-1996, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

From the guide to the Seattle Water Department Reports and Writings, 1903-1948, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

From the guide to the Seattle Water Department Conservation Office Records, 1978-1989, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

The Water Department was created in 1910 from the former Department of Lighting and Water Works. It managed the water supply for the city and most of King County. In 1997 the Water Department was abolished, and its functions were absorbed by Seattle Public Utilities.

Efforts to use Cedar River as a source of water for the City of Seattle were initiated in the 1890s by City Engineer R H Thomson. Water from the Cedar River Watershed was first delivered in 1901. Water was diverted by a dam at Landsburg, and then was channeled into a newly-completed 28.57-mile pipeline. This pipeline carried water to the Volunteer Park and Lincoln reservoirs on Capitol Hill in Seattle, which were also built at the time. In 1909, a second pipeline was built, and a third in 1923.

In response to increased needs by a growing city, the Tolt River was explored as a source of water in the 1950s and the south fork of the Tolt began providing a new source of water supply to north Seattle and the east side beginning in 1964.

In 1962, landowners signed the Cedar River Watershed Cooperative Agreement, which set up a process of land transfers that resulted in Seattle's complete ownership of its watershed lands. This led to further procedures for fire protection and public access control. In 1996, the USDA Forest Service ceded its watershed land to the City, which gave Seattle final and sole ownership of the entire watershed.

From the guide to the Seattle Watershed and Pipeline Aerial Photographs, 1930-1989, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

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.

With tooth decay prevalent among Seattle's children, Dr. Emil Palmquist, Seattle-King County Department of Public Health director, put forth a suggestion to add fluoride to Seattle's drinking water in 1951. Fluoridation was a hotly debated topic in the 1950s and 1960s, with health professionals, organizations, and citizens on both sides of the issue.

A variety of groups and individuals -- citizens as well as health professionals -- opposed fluoridation. Many felt that fluoridation was "compulsory medication" and violated an individual's right to choose what treatments and medication to seek out for him- or herself; these opponents made the case that fluoridated milk, juice, or even vitamins could be made available to those families that chose to purchase these items. Religious concerns affected the issue as well, as many religions oppose the use of certain forms of medication or treatment. For example, although the Church of Christ, Scientist supported the rights of individual families to use fluoride supplements, it was one of the most vocal groups in opposition of fluoridated drinking water. Furthermore, opponents argued that the dosage was not adjusted for individual needs, and cited a variety of potential harmful effects, including mottling of teeth and risks of more serious diseases, such as cancer. A few went so far as to suggest that fluoride in the water set a "precedent for compulsory mass dosing for other purposes."

On the other hand, fluoride's advocates argued that not fluoridating Seattle's water infringed upon the rights of all children to have proper tooth care. Low-income families might not have the option of frequent visits to the dentist or of purchasing fluoride-added items, and thus, fluoridated water was the cheapest and most effective way to improve the teeth of all children, regardless of the family's economic status. Advocates maintained that fluoridation of drinking water was a cheap and safe solution to reducing tooth decay. Furthermore, in response to opponents' charges that fluoridation abridged individual rights, a Seattle Times article of February 2, 1963 stated that "[c]ourts have held that fluoridation is a proper function of government and does not infringe on individual rights." The fluoridation recommendation was endorsed by many health professionals and organizations, including the State Board of Health, and by other citizens' organizations such as the Seattle Council of Parent Teacher Associations.

In 1952, a proposal to add fluoride to the water was defeated by almost a two-to-one margin. The proposal was again defeated in 1963, although the vote was comparatively much closer. In 1968, the Seattle City Council voted 5 to 4 in favor of fluoridation. The Council then chose to allow the voters to decide, and -- sixteen years after its initial rejection -- fluoridation was approved, and Seattle joined large cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. in adding fluoride to its drinking water.

From the guide to the Fluoride Scrapbook, 1946-1963, (Seattle Municipal Archives)

From 1854 until 1890, Seattle's water was provided by wells, springs and private water companies. 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. In 1888, prompted by a tenfold population increase during the previous decade, Seattle's mayor and city council called for an election to decide if the city should own and operate its own water system.

Shortly before the election, the "Great Seattle Fire" of June 6, 1889, destroyed the entire 64-acre business district. A major contributor to the widespread destruction was the lack of water available from the patchwork of private water suppliers. The vote on establishing a municipally-owned water system was approved by a resounding 1,875 to 51 margin.

In 1890, a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowed municipalities to issue bonds secured by future revenues. Shortly thereafter, Seattle issued $845,000 in bonds and purchased two private water companies -- the Spring Hill Water Company and the Union Water Company -- both of which pumped water from Lake Union and Lake Washington. In 1895, Seattle residents again voted to approve revenue bonds, this time to construct the Cedar River water system. Water first flowed from the Cedar River into Seattle's system on January 10, 1901. Water was diverted by a dam at Landsburg, and then was channeled into a newly-completed 28.57 mile pipeline. This pipeline carried water to the Volunteer Park and Lincoln reservoirs on Capitol Hill in Seattle, which were also built at the time. This new system had a capacity of 23.5 million gallons per day.

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 1909, a second pipeline was added, providing an additional 45 million gallon per day capacity to meet the water needs of a fast-growing Seattle. The next water supply source was not added until 1964, when the South Fork of the Tolt River began supplying north Seattle and the Eastside. In 1987, the first ground water source was added to the system when two wells in the Highline Well Field began operation. A third well was added in 1990.

In 1997 the Water Department was consolidated with the utilities of the Engineering Department to form Seattle Public Utilities.

From the guide to the Seattle Water Department Water Quality Scrapbook, 1956-1977, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

The Water Department was created in 1910 from the former Department of Lighting and Water Works. It managed the water supply for the city and most of King County. In 1997 the Water Department was abolished, and its functions were absorbed by Seattle Public Utilities.

Efforts to use Cedar River as a source of water for the City of Seattle were initiated in the 1890s by City Engineer R H Thomson. Water from the Cedar River Watershed was first delivered in 1901. Water was diverted by a dam at Landsburg, and then was channeled into a newly-completed 28.57-mile pipeline. This pipeline carried water to the Volunteer Park and Lincoln reservoirs on Capitol Hill in Seattle, which were also built at the time. In 1909, a second pipeline was built, and a third in 1923.

In 1962, landowners signed the Cedar River Watershed Cooperative Agreement, which set up a process of land transfers that resulted in Seattle's complete ownership of its watershed lands. This led to further procedures for fire protection and public access control. In 1996, the USDA Forest Service ceded its watershed land to the City, which gave Seattle final and sole ownership of the entire watershed.

From the guide to the Cedar River Watershed Maps, 1891 -1970, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

From 1854 until 1890, Seattle's water was provided by wells, springs and private water companies. 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. In 1888, prompted by a tenfold population increase during the previous decade, Seattle's mayor and city council called for an election to decide if the city should own and operate its own water system.

Shortly before the election, the "Great Seattle Fire" of June 6, 1889, destroyed the entire 64-acre business district. A major contributor to the widespread destruction was the lack of water available from the patchwork of private water suppliers. The vote on establishing a municipally-owned water system was approved by a resounding 1,875 to 51 margin.

In 1890, a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowed municipalities to issue bonds secured by future revenues. Shortly thereafter, Seattle issued $845,000 in bonds and purchased two private water companies -- the Spring Hill Water Company and the Union Water Company -- both of which pumped water from Lake Union and Lake Washington. In 1895, Seattle residents again voted to approve revenue bonds, this time to construct the Cedar River water system. Water first flowed from the Cedar River into Seattle's system on January 10, 1901. Water was diverted by a dam at Landsburg, and then was channeled into a newly-completed 28.57 mile pipeline. This pipeline carried water to the Volunteer Park and Lincoln reservoirs on Capitol Hill in Seattle, which were also built at the time. This new system had a capacity of 23.5 million gallons per day.

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 1909, a second pipeline was added, providing an additional 45 million gallon per day capacity to meet the water needs of a fast-growing Seattle. The next water supply source was not added until 1964, when the South Fork of the Tolt River began supplying north Seattle and the Eastside. In 1987, the first ground water source was added to the system when two wells in the Highline Well Field began operation. A third well was added in 1990.

In 1997 the Water Department was consolidated with the utilities of the Engineering Department to form Seattle Public Utilities.

From the guide to the Seattle Water Department Historical Files, 1889-1964, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)