Coordinated Water System Planning

The Public Water System Coordination Act of 1977 created Critical Water Supply Service Areas (CWSSA) in Washington State because "an adequate supply of potable water for domestic, commercial, and industrial use is vital to the health and well-being of the people of the state," RCW 70.116.010. All of Pierce County was declared a CWSSA in 1983, requiring the County to develop a Coordinated Water System Plan (CWSP). The County's CWSP:

  • Provides maximum integration and coordination of public water system facilities 
  • Is the coordinating document that provides policy   recommendations
  • Helps coordinate delivery of water of Group A water systems
  • Sets framework and process of water system review plans
  • Identifies future demand and if there are sufficient water rights to meet demand
  • Sets minimum standards for fire flow


Water Utility Coordinating Committee (WUCC)

On May 22, 2018, the Pierce County Council passed Resolution No. R2018-39s2authorizing the WUCC to review and recommend an update to Pierce County's CWSP. The WUCC members include at least one person from County Council, Planning and Public Works Department, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, and each water provider with at least 50 connections.

The updated plan was adopted by Pierce County Council on July 13, 2021.

The Washington State Department of Health – Office of Drinking Water conveyed its approval of the CWSP update in a September 30, 2021 letter.

Group A Water System Plan Review Process

A Group A Water System is a system that provides 15 or more water connections. Pierce County reviews Group A Water System plans for consistency with the CWSP.  

Submittal requirements:

        Pierce County Planning and Public Works
        Attn: Long Range Planning
        2401 S 35th St, Ste 2
        Tacoma, WA 98409

(1) GIS Shapefile is preferred. If a CAD file is submitted, the service area needs to be designated by polylines, not hatching, to enable the file to be imported as layer into GIS. The projected coordinate system shall be: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Washington_South_FIPS_4602_Feet

(2) SSA is only required if one is not previously on file, or if WSA boundary is proposed to be modified. The submitted SSA shall include an attached map that clearly depicts the system’s water service area. The map should be no larger than 11x17 in size

Resubmittal Requirements

  • Submit only changed pages that address review comments (i.e., maps or figures)
  • Cover letter clearly describing how the comments were addressed, and where comments can be found in the submittal
  • Electronic copy of the document that includes proposed changes to the document
  • Electronic file of changed WSA boundary per review comments
  • Signed Standard Service Agreement (SSA)
  • Email submittals to [email protected]

Resources