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Water Construction and Development Services

Water Construction & Development Services

Tacoma Water can help with new water service, water main extensions, fire hydrant permits, and other construction and development needs. Use the options below to find the service or request that applies to your project.

Need to stop water service temporarily?

If you need to stop an existing water service temporarily:

  • Call Customer Services at 253-502-8600.
  • Make changes to your account online in MyAccount.

Replacing a customer-owned service line?

Use the diagram below to identify the utility-owned and customer-owned portions of your water service line.

The image is an illustrative diagram depicting the relationship between a water main, service lines, and a residential property. Positioned at the top of the image is a light green area suggesting grass, with three stylized evergreen trees on the left and a white picket fence. Below this, there is a gray road running horizontally across the image. The house is on the right, prominently featured with a sloped roof and light-colored walls. A water meter is placed at the base of the house, with two service lines extending from it. The first service line, indicated in blue, represents the utility-owned service line connecting the water meter to the main water supply. The second line, in orange, signifies the customer-owned service line running from the meter to the house. Above the house are two circles showcasing customer-owned plumbing elements: one shows a sink, while the other displays a toilet. At the bottom of the image, there’s a text section with policy information related to water service line repairs, indicating specified conditions for repairs up to three feet and beyond.

If your property is inside Tacoma city limits:

Financial assistance may be available through the Water Grant and Loan program.

Learn more about the program

If your property is outside Tacoma city limits, contact your city or county planning department for permit requirements.

Water construction and development services

For properties outside Tacoma city limits, Tacoma Water provides a Certificate of Water Availability when Pierce County requires drinking water approval for a building permit. The certificate confirms Tacoma Water’s willingness and ability to provide water service to the parcel for the project.

Typical level of service: 7 business days

For properties inside Tacoma city limits, submit a Water Adequacy Letter request to confirm a safe and reliable water supply for facilities such as food establishments, schools, childcare facilities, pools or camps.

Typical level of service: 5 business days

Water Adequacy Letter

Questions? Email waterconstruction@tacoma.gov or call 253-502-8247.

Modeled fire flow letter

Tacoma Water provides modeled fire flow and pressure information. Results are provided in gallons per minute at a specific hydrant, at 20 psi residual pressure, based on jurisdictional guidelines.

Typical level of service: 7 business days

Modeled fire flow letter

Field hydrant flow test

Fire Hydrant Flow Test Application and Agreement

Fee: $350

Typical level of service: 4 to 6 weeks, depending on site location.

Questions? Contact Shelly Shaffer at sshaffer@tacoma.gov or 253-502-8740.

For single-family homes, duplexes and ADU/DADUs.

Water Service Estimate, Application and Agreement

Typical level of service:

  • Fee estimate: 14 business days
  • Installation: 7 weeks after payment

Tacoma Water will process the request and return it with a cost estimate. The estimate serves as the application if the customer decides to proceed.

The estimate may include:

  • Material and labor for construction and installation
  • System development charge
  • Right-of-way permits
  • Water main charge, if applicable
  • Surcharge from acquisition systems, if applicable
  • Applicable taxes
  • Jurisdiction mitigation fee, if applicable

To purchase the new water service:

  • Complete the signature through DocuSign once received.
  • Submit payment by phone, mail, lobby or drop box.

Typical residential service sizes:

  • Standard: 3/4-inch service line and 5/8-inch meter, supplying 20 gpm
  • Static water pressure below 40 psi: 1-inch service line and 5/8-inch meter, supplying 20 gpm
  • Duplex: 1-inch service line and 3/4-inch meter, supplying 30 gpm
  • Homes requiring fire sprinklers: 1-inch service line and 3/4-inch combination fire/domestic meter, supplying 35 gpm
  • ADU/DADUs: The existing meter may be able to support both the single-family dwelling and ADU/DADU.

Important notes:

  • Tacoma Water needs an assigned address before creating an installation order.
  • Tacoma Water schedules new services and meters after payment.
  • The developer must mark finished grade and alignment before installation.
  • Tacoma Water generally does not locate meter boxes in sidewalks or paved areas unless an exception is approved.
  • Tacoma Water must inspect required backflow assemblies before turning on the meter.
  • Submit required utility easement documentation before payment for new water services.

Questions? Email waterconstruction@tacoma.gov or call 253-502-8247.

For small retail businesses, industrial customers and multifamily residential projects.

Commercial New Service Estimate

Typical level of service:

  • Estimate: 3 to 4 weeks
  • Installation: 7 weeks after payment

Tacoma Water determines service line and meter size for triplex and larger multifamily projects through design review and fixture count.

For domestic water service, Tacoma Water begins the estimate after receiving the civil design plan, plumbing design plan and plumbing schedule.

For fire meters and assemblies, the developer and fire sprinkler system contractor determine the fire meter size.

The estimate may include:

  • Material and labor for construction installation
  • System development charge
  • Right-of-way permits
  • Water main charge, if applicable
  • Surcharge from acquisition systems, if applicable
  • Jurisdiction mitigation fee, if applicable
  • Applicable taxes
  • Time and Material Agreement

When you’re ready to proceed, submit the Estimate Fee Letter, Time and Materials Agreement, residential application if required and payment.

Important notes:

  • Submit required utility easement documentation before payment.
  • Tacoma Water needs an assigned address before creating an installation order.
  • Tacoma Water schedules services and meters after full deposit payment.
  • The developer must mark finished grade and alignment before installation.
  • Tacoma Water generally does not locate meter boxes in sidewalks or paved areas unless an exception is approved.
  • Tacoma Water must inspect required backflow assemblies before turning on the meter. Please review the backflow assembly requirements.
  • Developers pay construction costs directly to the contractor and must provide required security and liability insurance.
Questions? Email us at WaterServices@Tacoma.gov.

Permanent water main extensions

There are two options for permanent water main extensions:

Local Improvement District

Learn about the Local Improvement District process.

Private Contract

Questions about the Private Contract process? Contact Shelly Shaffer at sshaffer@tacoma.gov or 253-345-9565.

Water main design by private contract

Tacoma Water prepares plans and specifications and estimates the engineering charge. Developers pay a deposit equal to the estimated cost. Tacoma Water bills actual costs against the deposit.

Typical timing:
  • Preliminary Design Estimate and Design Agreement: 1 to 2 weeks
  • Predesign meeting: 1 to 2 weeks after design deposit payment
  • Drafting and engineering: about 12 weeks, depending on project size
  • External 90% design review is additional:
    • Pierce County Fire Marshal review: up to 8 weeks
    • Planning and Development Services and City of Tacoma Engineering review: up to 12 weeks

Water main construction by private contract

Developers agree with a contractor and Tacoma Water to construct the water main extension.

Developers:
  • Pay construction costs directly to the contractor
  • Provide required performance security and liability insurance
  • Pay Tacoma Water’s inspection, testing and sampling costs through a second deposit
Construction sequence:
  • Prepare construction contract: about 1 week
  • Contract review and approval: 1 to 2 weeks
  • Pre-construction meeting: typically about 2 weeks after required paperwork, staking and materials are complete
  • Construction timing is provided by the developer and contractor

Easements

Typical level of service: 8 weeks

Developers must provide a 20-foot-wide easement over the full length of the water main, hydrants, service laterals, and meters. The developer’s professional land surveyor prepares and submits the legal description to Tacoma Water. Required easements must be completed before certain meter purchases, property transfers, or installation activities can proceed.

Occupancy Backflow Assembly Inspection Request

Typical level of service: 1 to 2 business days

Tacoma Water requires an approved backflow prevention assembly before providing new water service to certain facilities, dedicated fire services, separately metered irrigation services, multi-tenant commercial properties and premises with an unapproved auxiliary water supply.

A state-certified backflow assembly tester can test the assembly. If a tester is not on Tacoma Water’s list, the tester must provide current state certification and equipment calibration certificates before Tacoma Water can accept the test report.

Temporary water service may be supplied from a fire hydrant with an approved permit. This may be needed for construction or to fill a tanker truck when permanent water service is unavailable.

Typical level of service: About 7 days

Category one

Fixed, single approved hydrant site construction project:

  • Permit fee: $100
  • Meter and hose deposit: $1,000
  • Monthly meter reads required
  • Two-inch meter ready-to-serve charge and commercial water consumption charged monthly
  • Deposit refunded after equipment is returned, less applicable repair or replacement costs

Category two

Multiple-site hydrant use at pre-approved hydrant locations:

  • Permit fee: $100
  • General contractors and subcontractors submit estimated truck water use in total gallons
  • Two-inch meter ready-to-serve charge and commercial water consumption charged monthly

Category three

Short-term, one-day minimum use of a single approved hydrant:

  • Permit fee: $50

A subcontractor may use the same permit as the general contractor if cross-connection requirements are met and the subcontractor is disclosed when the permit is issued.

Water Tap and Connection Letter Request

Typical level of service: 1 to 2 days

Payments:

For balances owed on an existing utility account:

You can find answers to common questions about land use rights, permits and applications on the City of Tacoma’s website.

Tacoma Public Utilities requires a land use permit for certain activities on or around TPU property, including:

  • Log or rock hauling
  • Vehicle parking
  • Landscaping and gardening
  • Signage
  • Ingress and egress access

To apply, complete the Land Use Permit Application. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval.+

Submit your application:

By Mail:

Tacoma Public Utilities
Real Property Services
P.O. Box 11007
Tacoma, WA 98411-1007

By Email:

Send the completed application to mluchini@tacoma.gov.

Questions? Call Real Property Services at 253-396-3060.

Contact

Water Construction and Development Services