Coordinated Water System Planning

Public Water Coordination


The Public Water System Coordination Act of 1977, RCW 70.116, established procedures for coordinating, planning, and establishing Critical Water Supply Service Areas (CWSSA).

In 1983, all of Pierce County was declared a CWSSA through the adoption of Ordinance No. 83-9 and Ordinance No. 83-152.

The first Pierce County Coordinated Water System Plan (CWSP) was established in 1988, and the current CWSP was adopted in 2001 through Ordinance No. 2003-69.

Water Utility Coordinating Committee (WUCC)


Pierce County established a Water Utility Coordinating Committee (WUCC) as required by WAC 246-293-150. The WUCC is made up of one representative each from:
  • County legislative authority within the declared area
  • County planning agency having jurisdiction within the declared area
  • Health agency having jurisdiction within the declared area
  • Water purveyors with over 50 service connections within the declared area
  • The Pierce County WUCC, was originally created by the Pierce County Council through Resolution R83-130 to develop a Coordinated Water System Plan (CWSP) for Pierce County. The WUCC membership was updated and re-established through Resolution 2008-84 on June 24, 2008.
The WUCC conducts periodic reviews of the CWSP to determine if any updates are necessary and whether implementation of the plan policies is being achieved as anticipated. Any recommended revisions to the CWSP are forwarded to the Washington State Department of Health, the County Executive, and County Council for review and adoption.

Comprehensive Water System Planning


The Public Water System Coordination Act requires each purveyor within the external boundaries of a CWSSA to develop a water system plan for their service area. The boundaries of the service area must be established in accordance with provisions of RCW 70.116.070.

The Washington State Department of Health is primarily responsible for water system plan approval; however, prior to that approval there are a number of plan review functions that are within the purview of local government.

In Pierce County, the Planning and Land Services Department has been tasked to ensure consistency of water system documents with local growth management plans and development policies and provisions of the CWSP.

Submittal Requirements
  • WSP Review Requirement Guidelines
  • Local Government Consistency Review Checklist
  • SSMA Document Review Checklist
  • Standard Service Agreement (SSA)
  • DEM 2009 WSP Emergency Plan Update
  • Examples Existing Land Use Build Out Capacity
  • Time and Materials
  • Submittal Requirements