Seattle Public Utilities

Seattle Public Utility implements comprehensive water efficiency programs that treat conservation as the preferred source of supplies and a citywide green infrastructure incentive program, “RainWise,” to motivate private property owners to join in the solution to storm water management. SPU debt finances these efficiency and green infrastructure rebates for private property installations, which has allowed the utility to build robust programs.

Project at a Glance

Utility Overview

Utility: Seattle Public Utilities
Location: Seattle, Washington
Population served: 1.4 million
Service area (within Seattle): ~84 square miles

Challenges

Drought
Increased demand for drinking water from population growth
Urban storm water management
Combined sewer overflows

Solutions

Comprehensive water efficiency programs that treat conservation as the preferred source of supplies, and citywide green infrastructure incentive program, “RainWise,” to motivate private property owners to join in the solution to storm water management.

Program costs and funding sources

Water Efficiency
- Total project cost: $1.7 million in 2019 for customer rebates
- Funding sources: Municipal bonds
RainWise
- Total project cost: $1.1 million in 2019
- Funding sources: Municipal bonds