Cascade Water Alliance

What Cascade Water Alliance does

Cascade Water Alliance is a municipal corporation organized under Washington's Joint Municipal Utility Services Act (Chapter 39.106 RCW) that provides wholesale drinking water supply to seven member agencies in the Puget Sound region of Washington State: the cities of Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and Tukwila, plus the Sammamish Plateau Water and Skyway Water & Sewer districts, collectively serving approximately 400,000 residents and an additional 380,000 in employment population. Formed in 1999 and converted to municipal corporation status in 2012, Cascade sources water from Seattle Public Utilities under a wholesale agreement providing 33.3 mgd through 2039 and ramping down through 2063, delivered via the Bellevue-Issaquah Pipeline. The organization purchased the White River-Lake Tapps Reservoir system from Puget Sound Energy in 2009 as a future municipal supply, holds Washington State Department of Ecology water rights (issued 2010), and in March 2025 signed new long-term supply contracts with Tacoma Water beginning in 2041 at up to 24 mgd by 2060, requiring Cascade to fund and construct a new transmission main.

The business model combines recurring rate revenue streams from members (Administrative Dues, Conservation Charge, Demand Share Charge, and the Regional Capital Facilities Charge set on a biennial basis by the board) with one-time tax-exempt bond issuances (Cascade carries a AAA S&P rating) and capital infrastructure loans, including from the State Public Works Trust Fund. Cascade also operates a portfolio of water efficiency programs - including Cascade Gardener classes, Lawn Be Gone rebates, irrigation assessments, EPA WaterSense partnerships, and the We Need Water conservation campaign - alongside specialized reservoir management at Lake Tapps (notably a milfoil treatment program with over $2.5M spent since 2010 using ProcellaCOR, and the TappsWise water quality program with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department).

Cascade is governed by a board of directors composed of elected officials from each member agency and operates with a lean staff of 11-50 employees supported by a leadership team that includes a Chief of Staff, Chief Economist/Treasurer, and six functional Directors covering Water Efficiency, Land Use, Engineering & Capital Projects, Operations, Intergovernmental & Communications, Finance, and Program Planning. A new CEO, John Taylor, was appointed May 6, 2026 following the retirement of Ray Hoffman. Geographically, Cascade's operations are concentrated in King County, Washington, with principal offices in Bellevue and an operations support site in Sumner at the White River-Lake Tapps Project Powerhouse.

Name

Cascade Water Alliance

Legal name

Cascade Water Alliance

Website

https://cascadewater.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cascade Water Alliance is a Washington municipal corporation that provides wholesale drinking water supply and conservation programs to seven member agencies in King County, serving approximately 400,000 residents through a Bellevue-Issaquah Pipeline and a future Tacoma Water supply contract beginning in 2041.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations) (EUANAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Treated Drinking Water Transmission Pipelines (Bulk Conveyance) (TLAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Wholesale water supply
• Municipal water utility
• Water supply infrastructure
• Water conservation programs
• Regional water planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Wausau

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Water Supply Charges to Members: Cascade collects rates and charges from its members to fund activities. Revenue components include Administrative Dues and Conservation Charge (assessed based on total water use), Demand Share Charge (based on greater of past three years average daily demand or peak season demand), and Regional Capital Facilities Charge (RCFC) assessed for each new connection to fund capital programs and debt repayment.
2. Bond Proceeds: Tax-exempt bonds issued by Cascade for eligible purposes including capital infrastructure projects. Cascade maintains a AAA bond rating.
3. Loans: Loans from members or other entities such as the State Public Works Trust Fund for financing water supply infrastructure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cascade Water Alliance is a municipal water utility corporation that provides wholesale drinking water supply to seven member agencies (five cities and two water/sewer districts) in the King County/Puget Sound region, serving approximately 400,000 residents. It operates the Bellevue-Issaquah Pipeline for current water delivery sourced from Seattle Public Utilities, manages the Lake Tapps Reservoir as a future water source, and runs regional water efficiency and conservation programs. The organization also finances large-scale capital infrastructure, including a future Tacoma Water transmission main expected to begin delivering water in 2041.

Product overview

Cascade Water Alliance is a municipal water utility corporation that provides wholesale drinking water supply and water efficiency services to seven member agencies (Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, Tukwila, Sammamish Plateau Water, and Skyway Water & Sewer District) in the Puget Sound region. The organization operates a core water supply infrastructure (including the Bellevue-Issaquah Pipeline) and manages the Lake Tapps Reservoir as a future water source. Its service portfolio includes water supply services, the Cascade Supply Program (connecting with Tacoma Water), and comprehensive water efficiency programs such as Cascade Gardener classes, the Lawn Be Gone grass removal rebate program, irrigation assessments, rebates through Puget Sound Energy partnerships, and the We Need Water conservation campaign. The company does not offer a software product or technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Supply Services Wholesale drinking water supply and delivery services to seven member agencies (five cities and two water/sewer districts) in the Puget Sound region, serving approximately 400,000 residents. Current supply is sourced from Seattle Public Utilities via the Bellevue-Issaquah Pipeline (33.3 mgd through 2039) and future supply will come from Tacoma Public Utilities starting in 2041.
• Water Efficiency Programs Regional water conservation services including rebates, educational classes, irrigation assessments, and conservation tools to help residential and commercial customers reduce water usage. Goal of 0.5 million gallons per day cumulative savings from 2020 to 2029.
• Rebates and Free Conservation Items Partnership with Puget Sound Energy offering rebates for high-efficiency appliances and fixtures, plus free water-saving tools including showerheads and rain gauges.
• Cascade Supply Program Regional water supply program establishing a future connection with Tacoma Water to provide resilient long-term water supply to member agencies, expected to begin in 2041. Cascade will finance, construct, operate and maintain a water transmission main from Tacoma's pipeline 5.
• Lawn Be Gone: Grass Removal Program Rebate program encouraging residents to replace water-intensive lawns with native or drought-tolerant plants, including instructional guides and videos.
• Irrigation System Assessments Free professional evaluations to improve irrigation efficiency for residential and commercial properties.
• Cascade Gardener Classes Free gardening classes and walking tours led by regional horticulture experts, offering practical advice for water-efficient landscaping in the Pacific Northwest.

Quantifiable outcome

• Conservation program goal of 0.5 million gallons per day cumulative savings from 2020 to 2029

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Tacoma Public Utilities (Tacoma Water)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2025Cascade signed two new water supply agreements with Tacoma Water in March 2025: a Wholesale Water Supply Agreement and a Market-Priced Wholesale Water Supply Agreement. Tacoma will begin delivering water to Cascade starting in 2041 at up to 24 mgd by 2060. Cascade will finance, construct, operate and maintain a water transmission main from Tacoma's pipeline 5 to Cascade's customers.
• Seattle Public UtilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCascade has a wholesale water purchase contract with Seattle Public Utilities. The agreement provides 33.3 mgd capacity through 2039, then ramps down through 2063. Cascade receives water through the Bellevue-Issaquah Pipeline.
• Central Puget Sound Water Supply ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCascade is a member of the Forum which addresses current and future water supply issues with utilities in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, including supply system resiliency, planning, policy and regulation, and environmental stewardship. The Forum is conducting seismic resiliency assessments.
• Tacoma Pierce County Health DepartmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the TappsWise program to promote natural yard care and septic maintenance to keep Lake Tapps clean and healthy. The program offers workshops, site visits, and certification for homeowners.
• EPA WaterSensemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCascade was named Partner of the Year by EPA WaterSense in 2010 for water conservation efforts. Cascade continues to participate in WaterSense programs and promotes WaterSense-certified products.
• Nature VisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCascade provides classroom water education for grades K-12 through its partner Nature Vision, covering topics including the global water crisis, salmon cycles, watershed ecology, water conservation, and amphibians.
• Sustainability AmbassadorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides teacher and student learning opportunities in the study of water, including teacher training labs, curriculum design support, student impact projects, and video resources.
• Tilth AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for free training programs teaching sustainable gardening, rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, and soil and water stewardship for students, community educators, and clubs.
• Puget Sound EnergymajorTechnology or IntegrationCascade partners with Puget Sound Energy for rebate programs on high-efficiency appliances and fixtures. PSE previously owned the Lake Tapps Reservoir which Cascade purchased in 2009.
• King CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCascade partners with King County on the Energize program to install free water-efficient devices in homes.
• Puyallup Tribe of IndiansmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCascade has a White River Management Agreement with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians (dated August 8, 2008) ensuring in-stream flows on the White River and tribal settlement agreement.
• Muckleshoot Indian TribemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCascade has a White River Management Agreement with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe (dated August 8, 2008) ensuring in-stream flows on the White River and tribal settlement agreement for water rights.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Portland Water Bureau: Portland Water Bureau serves the City of Portland and wholesale customers including surrounding cities on the Bull Run watershed system. Directly comparable as a Pacific Northwest municipal water utility with wholesale supply contracts to neighboring jurisdictions.
• Toho Water Authority: Toho Water Authority is a regional water and wastewater utility serving four Osceola County municipalities in Central Florida. Comparable as a multi-member regional water wholesaler formed by member municipalities pooling water service provision.
• Southern Nevada Water Authority: SNWA is a regional wholesale water authority serving multiple municipalities in southern Nevada. Closely comparable business model as a multi-member wholesale water agency pooling regional supply and infrastructure for member cities.
• East Bay Municipal Utility District: EBMUD is a California municipal water and wastewater utility serving multiple cities in the East Bay area. Comparable regional municipal water utility with similar governance structure and multi-jurisdiction service profile.
• Seattle Public Utilities: Seattle Public Utilities is Cascade's current wholesale water supplier under a declining block agreement providing 33.3 mgd through 2039. Directly comparable as a major Pacific Northwest municipal water utility with regional wholesale operations.
• San Diego County Water Authority: SDCWA is a regional wholesale water agency supplying water to 24 member agencies in San Diego County. Closely comparable as a wholesale water alliance pooling member agency demand and operating major conveyance infrastructure.
• Denver Water: Denver Water is a large municipal water utility serving approximately 1.5 million people across multiple municipalities in the Denver metro area. Comparable as a wholesale/retreat municipal water provider with significant reservoir and pipeline infrastructure.
• Tacoma Water: Tacoma Water is a municipal water utility that supplies drinking water to Tacoma and surrounding areas and is Cascade's new wholesale supplier starting 2041. Directly comparable as a Pacific Northwest municipal water provider serving multiple jurisdictions with similar regulatory and operational profile.
• Central Arizona Project: CAP is a wholesale water delivery system delivering Colorado River water to municipal and agricultural users across central Arizona. Comparable as a regional wholesale water wholesaler with large-scale conveyance infrastructure and multi-jurisdictional governance.
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: Metropolitan is the largest wholesale water agency in the U.S., serving 26 member agencies across Southern California. Comparable as a regional water wholesaler with major imported supply agreements and AAA bond profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CascadeWaterAlliance
• Facebookfacebook.com/weneedH20
• Instagraminstagram.com/weneedh20/?hl=en
• Xx.com/Cascade_Water
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-cascade-water-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cascade Water Alliance