Proposed Tacoma Water partnership with the Cascade Water Alliance

The Agreement

Tacoma Water is negotiating a proposed wholesale water supply agreement with the Cascade Water Alliance (Cascade). Under this proposed agreement, Tacoma Water would deliver water to the edge of our service territory. Cascade would then deliver this water to their members.  

If approved, Tacoma would start delivering water to Cascade in 2041. Delivery amounts and time frames are still being negotiated, but Cascade could start with a small portion of water in 2041 and steadily increase to 24 million gallons per day on average by 2060. After 2062, delivery to Cascade would be reduced to 12 million gallons per day (MGD) on an average day.  

Currently, there is no infrastructure connecting the Tacoma and Cascade systems. Cascade would need to construct a water transmission main from Tacoma’s pipeline 5 to Cascade’s customers.

Benefits

This contract would benefit Tacoma Water customers in many ways:  

Generate revenue and stabilize rates 

• A new steady and predictable revenue stream for over 20 years. 
• Help keep rates lower for residential, wholesale and business customers over time. 
• Diversify Tacoma Water’s customer base and sources of revenue to further enhance financial resiliency.  

Efficiently utilize surplus infrastructure capacity and supply 

• This agreement would help Tacoma Water use the water previously used by the Westrock pulp mill to balance supply and demand effectively (the mill used roughly 16 million gallons per day). 

Benefit from increased partnerships and collaboration 

• Position Tacoma Water to benefit from future regional water projects and shared investments in infrastructure. 
• Support regional conservation efforts and coordinate more effective water management practices. 
• Enhance Tacoma Water’s supply resiliency through broader access to regional supply. This will help mitigate regional climate change, drought, wildfire, quality, and seismic vulnerabilities. 

Click here to learn more about the Cascade Water Alliance and their plans for future supply.

Timeline