Seattle Public Utilities

Seattle Public Utilities was created in 1997 when the water, solid waste, drainage, and wastewater utilities from the Engineering and Water departments were merges with the Engineering Services Division of SED and the Customer Serice Call Center and Construction Engineering Sections of City Light.

From the guide to the Communications Division Digital Photograph Collection, 1999-2007, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) was created in 1997 when the water, solid waste, drainage, and wastewater utilities from the Engineering and Water departments were merged with the Engineering Services Division of the Engineering Department and the Customer Service Call Center and Construction Engineering Sections of City Light. SPU provides water to over 1.25 million customers in the Puget Sound region. Other services to the public include sewer, drainage, and solid waste (garbage and recycling). SPU also provides engineering and survey services to city departments. The department's outreach and education programs aim to reduce water consumption and increase recycling and composting.

From the guide to the Citizen Correspondence, 1999-2007, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

From the guide to the Seattle Public Utilities Project Records, 1991-2002, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

From the guide to the Seattle Public Utilities Director's Records, 1988-2007, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

Seattle Public Utilities was created in 1997 when the water, solid waste, drainage, and wastewater utilities from the Engineering and Water departments were merged with the Engineering Services Division of SED and the Customer Service Call Center and Construction Engineering Sections of City Light.

From the guide to the Science, Sustainability, and Watershed Digital Photograph Collection, 1998-2008, (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 Dept. of Lighting and Water Works was created. Five years later, the Water Dept. 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 Dept. was consolidated with the utilities of the Engineering Dept. to form Seattle Public Utilities.

From the description of Seattle Public Utilities creek photographs and slides, 1987-1999. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 154691100