Tacoma Public Utilities

Join us Wednesday, April 16 at 10:00 a.m. for the Cowlitz Fisheries Science Conference and Annual Program Review. Guests will receive updates from Tacoma Power and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife on project operations, hatchery work, habitat efforts, and more. The meeting is in person and virtual. For more information and the full agenda, visit https://bit.ly/4duyAMp

Public service isn’t just a job—it’s a calling worth honoring. For decades, we've honored our incredible employees' dedication to serving our community via "Service Awards," a celebration recognizing the hundreds of collective years they have devoted to our utility. This year, we honored 156 outstanding team members for a remarkable 2,830 years of combined service! From 10 years to over 40 years of dedication, these individuals embody what it means to make a lasting impact. Please join us in congratulating our 2025 honorees and thanking them for their exceptional service to TPU, the City of Tacoma, and the communities we proudly serve.

We’re proud to support local innovation and those interested in fleet electrification. First Student, in partnership with Tacoma Public Schools, is deploying 14 electric school buses, thanks to funding through the Washington State Department of Ecology and the US EPA Clean School Bus Program. Tacoma Power is contributing by developing and implementing innovative charging solutions, like installing electrical infrastructure for 14 DC fast chargers, dedicated to ensuring the buses are ready every school day. This project is just one example of how we're helping our community reach their electrification goals.

A view that just can't be beat. ⛰️ #PhotoOfTheMonth

The Public Utility Board is meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. Real-time public comment will be available at the start of the meeting. Attend virtually: https://bit.ly/39kOvNs

Thursday night was a splash as we joined local utilities and water purveyors in the South Sound Subsection PNWS-AWWA Annual Water Taste Test and Meter Challenge. The group submitted water samples to judges who conducted random taste tests to determine who had the best water in our area. Judging is based on three categories: scent, flavor, and aftertaste. Each category is scored on a 10-point scale from low (1) to high (10), the highest possible total score being 30 points. Good luck to the winner, Lake Josephine Riviera Water, who moves on to compete for the title of “Best in the Northwest.” In the Meter Challenge, Carlos emerged as the winner and will advance. Tacoma Water will also represent the South Sound in Boise with a Men’s Tapping Team and Women’s Hydrant Team. We're incredibly proud of all the contestants and wish the best of luck to the winners as they move forward. Participating in events like these signifies our commitment to supplying clean, reliable water and the outstanding employees who contribute to our mission. 

Happy World Water Day! Today, we're celebrating the lifeblood of our community: water. For over 100 years, we've taken great pride in delivering you clean, reliable water directly from the Green River Watershed in the majestic Cascade Mountains, all while providing ecological benefits to the environment. https://bit.ly/3Y3cGrU

Every day for 100 years, Tacoma Water staff have measured precipitation in the Green River Watershed. Current practice requires them to head to the weather station (circled in the first photo taken in the 1960s) at midnight, gather the precipitation that fell the day prior, and measure the total. Sometimes they have to melt snow to get the actual amount of water! In years past, the data was simply added to notebooks for analysis, now it’s entered into an online database that tracks averages, along with monthly and annual totals. The Green River has been Tacoma Water’s primary drinking water supply since 1913 so it’s vital we monitor precipitation to track historical shifts. The data helps us identify trends to forecast future water availability, especially for the dry summer months. MyTPU.org/WaterSupply. #TBT

“Tacoma Water has a long history of looking decades down the road to ensure good stewardship of this vital, public resource- water. Our agreement with Cascade provides benefit for today’s customers and for generations yet to come,” said Tacoma Public Utilities Board Chair John O’Loughlin.

The Public Utility Board is meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. Real-time public comment will be available at the start of the meeting. Attend virtually: https://bit.ly/39kOvNs