- Home
- Your Government
- Departments
- Public Works
- Water Service
Water Service
City of Bothell Judged Best Tasting Water in King County
Bothell walked away with top honors at the 11th Annual Best Tasting Water Competition. This event is held each year to highlight the hard work our cities and districts perform to provide safe, clean and good-tasting water to the residents of King County. Read more...
The City of Bothell provides high quality, clean water to 8,500 households and businesses. We obtain our water from Seattle Public Utilities, which is sourced from the Tolt and Cedar River Watersheds.
The City of Bothell is responsible for the operation and maintenance of more than 93 miles of water mains, four reservoirs, four pumping stations, and bi-monthly reading of over 4,000 meters.
Other water utilities provide water services to the remaining households and businesses.
Find your water service provider
There are multiple water districts operating within the City of Bothell and in the immediate vicinity. You will need to determine your water service provider prior to requesting service.
Water Conservation
Water conservation includes identifying and preventing wasted water. We offer tips and videos to help you do your part to conserve water at home, work and school.
Freezing Pipes - Prevention
When a pipe freezes, moisture or water standing in the pipes creates a blockage as additional water backs up in the pipe. Water expands as it freezes and places additional pressure on your pipes while it is expanding, potentially cracking or breaking pipes. When the frozen water returns to its liquid state, the water begins leaking out of cracks and breaks. Sometimes the crack is small but, over time, it can cause as much damage as a gushing leak. Often times, these pipes are located inside walls or under your house. They are always costly fixes, sometimes costing tens of thousands of dollars. Click here to learn more about preventing freezing pipes.
Contact Information
Phone: 425-806-6841
What is backflow?
Cross-Connection -- also known as backflow -- means any actual or potential physical connection between a public water system or the consumer's water system and any source of non-potable water supply by backflow. This can include water from common sources including: Swimming pools, hot water heaters, and soda fountains.
How does backflow occur?
Backflow occurs when water pressure on the consumer's side of the service connection is greater than the pressure provided by the public water system.
A drop in pressure, also known as back-siphonage, causes non-potable water to get sucked in to the public clean drinking water supply.
Although this is uncommon, the results can be deadly.
How do you prevent backflow / cross-connection contamination?
Backflow prevention assemblies protect the drinking water supply from becoming contaminated. These assemblies are tested annually to ensure they are in proper working order.
Through the Safe Drinking Water Act, a Cross Connection Control Program is required by the Washington State Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency to protect the public from contaminated water. This program calls for site inspections to identify and eliminate cross connections as well as annual testing of backflow prevention assemblies.
Legal Requirements for Water Customers / Property Owners / Testers
Annual Testing
Customers must obtain annual inspections and tests of their backflow assemblies. The City provides a Certified Backflow Testers List (PDF), which is updated every March. This list is a snap shot of credentials. Be sure to check that the tester you choose has current credentials and is using compliant test reports such as the form used by the City. Please view the Backflow Test Assembly Form (PDF).
Reference
Cross Connection Control Program Manual
Plumbing Changes and Backflow
Citizens' Water Utility service provider (City or Utility District) is responsible for providing potable safe drinking water to customers' service connections. Customer compliance is an essential component for the success of this mandated program. Prior to making plumbing changes obtain the proper permits (including new irrigation installation).
Determine Water Pressure and Fire Flow
Contractors and developers interested in fire system designs, construction, and irrigation need to apply for a Water/Sewer Availability Certificate for water pressure information. The Fire Flow or Water/Sewer Availability Certificate (WSA Form) is applied for online at www.MyBuildingPermit.com. Allow two weeks to process.
Hydrant Permits
Hydrant Use Permits are issued for construction projects within the City of Bothell Water District. The City of Bothell is served by four different Water Districts, check to see who serves your site. Water District Map.
The Hydrant Use Application has instructions to assist in the application process. Submit a signed Hydrant Use Application to Virginia Samuelson to start the application process.
Water Quality Report / Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
The Water Quality Report, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), contains important information regarding the source of your drinking water, how it is treated, and where you can learn more about your water. Annual reports are released each July.