Kitsap Public Utility District

What Kitsap Public Utility District does

Kitsap Public Utility District (KPUD) is a not-for-profit, community-owned municipal utility organized as a political subdivision of Washington State under Revised Code of Washington Chapter 54. Founded in 1941, KPUD serves approximately 46,000 customers across Kitsap County, Washington, providing three core services: retail drinking water through 51 owned groundwater-based water systems; wastewater/sewer services following the January 2026 transfer of Kitsap County Sewer District 7 operations; and open-access fiber-optic internet over 1,004 miles of owned fiber infrastructure that Internet Service Providers lease to serve end customers. The utility also operates ancillary services including free public Wi-Fi hotspots in underserved areas and a hydrological monitoring platform (KPUD Gage Map) providing real-time rainfall, streamflow, and well-level data.

The underlying technology is grounded in physical utility infrastructure — groundwater source wells, distribution mains, sewer collection systems, and a wholesale fiber network — supplemented by telemetered gaging stations for hydrological monitoring. Conservation-based tiered water pricing (ranging from $1.61 to $9.42 per 100 cubic feet across four tiers) is the core demand-management feature, and metering occurs on a bi-monthly billing cycle. Fiber is delivered through an "airport model" open-access architecture where ISPs act as airlines on KPUD's infrastructure.

KPUD's revenue model is built on recurring subscription-style charges across its three service lines (water, wastewater, fiber wholesale), supplemented by a county-wide property tax levy of $0.052708 per $1,000 of assessed value. Operations are governed by an elected three-member Board of Commissioners; the district is not investor-owned, has no parent company, and is funded in part by federal grants including EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and BEAD broadband awards. Customer segments are dominated by residential households, with secondary commercial/industrial and interlocal government customers, and distribution occurs directly through owned infrastructure within a single fixed geographic territory.

Name

Kitsap Public Utility District

Legal name

Kitsap Public Utility District

Website

https://kpud.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kitsap Public Utility District is a not-for-profit municipal utility serving 46,000 customers in Kitsap County, Washington with drinking water, wastewater, and open-access fiber internet services delivered through owned infrastructure and governed by an elected Board of Commissioners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Utility Services (Water, Wastewater, and Broadband)

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (23711)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Treated Water Storage & Pressure Management (Reservoirs, Tanks, Booster Stations) (EUANAAAD), Gravity Sewer Collection Networks (Sanitary Sewers) (EUANACAA), Municipal & Community Broadband ISPs (HDAIADAH)

Keywords

• Municipal water utility
• Wastewater management services
• Fiber internet infrastructure
• Open access broadband
• Public utility district

Headquarters

HQ city

Poulsbo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Water Service Charges: Bi-monthly billing for water service including basic service charge plus consumption-based tiered rates. Revenue must cover operations, maintenance, repairs, replacements, renewals, and bond/loan obligations per Washington State law RCW 54.24.080.
2. Wastewater/Sewer Services: Sewer and wastewater services transitioned from Kitsap County Sewer District 7 effective January 1, 2026. Provided to Fort Ward area customers.
3. Fiber Internet Services: Fast fiber internet infrastructure built and operated by KPUD; Internet Service Providers (ISPs) use the infrastructure to serve end customers. Revenue from wholesale/open access fiber network.
4. Property Tax Revenue: Small county-wide property taxes (2022 rate was $0.052708 per $1,000 assessed value) dedicated to county-wide uses including water resources management, educational opportunities, and middle-mile broadband needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kitsap Public Utility District is a not-for-profit, community-owned public utility that delivers three core services: drinking water through 51 owned water systems, wastewater/sewer management (expanded in January 2026 with the KCSD7/Fort Ward transition), and wholesale open-access fiber-optic internet infrastructure across 1,004 miles serving 46,000 customers in Kitsap County, Washington. Services are funded through regulated service charges and a small property tax levy under Washington State law RCW 54.24.080.

Product overview

Kitsap Public Utility District operates as a not-for-profit, community-owned utility providing three core services: water utility services (serving 46,000 customers with 51 owned water systems), wastewater/sewer services (expanded in 2026 with the KCSD7/Fort Ward transition), and fiber internet services (with 1,004 miles of fiber infrastructure). The utility also provides supplementary services including free public Wi-Fi hotspots for underserved communities and hydrological data monitoring through the Gage Map platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Utility Services Retail water service delivering safe and reliable drinking water to residential and commercial customers across Kitsap County, including water supply, distribution, quality testing, and infrastructure maintenance across 51 owned water systems.
• Wastewater/Sewer Services Sewer and wastewater collection and management services for the Fort Ward area on Bainbridge Island, assumed from Kitsap County Sewer District 7 effective January 1, 2026.
• KPUD Fiber Internet High-speed fiber-optic internet infrastructure providing symmetrical broadband connectivity across 1,004 miles of fiber, operated on an open-access wholesale basis where ISPs use the network to serve end residential and commercial customers throughout Kitsap County.
• Free Public Wi-Fi Complimentary public Wi-Fi hotspots deployed in Kitsap areas where students and residents have limited broadband access, supported by partnerships with school districts and community centers.

Quantifiable outcome

• No PFAS detection in all 60 water sources tested for 28 owned Group A water systems
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kitsap County Regional LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Interlocal agreement for fiber optic service (2025).
• Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Interlocal agreement to provide professional services (2025) and First Restated Interlocal Cooperation Agreement (2026) for regional broadband network coordination.
• North Kitsap Fire and RescueminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint construction agreement (2025).
• Kitsap County Sewer District No. 7coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Interlocal agreement for management of sewer system, facilities, and equipment (2024). KCSD7 (Fort Ward Sewer) transferred sewer/wastewater operations to KTPUD effective January 1, 2026.
• City of Bainbridge Island & Recreation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Interlocal agreements for water system facilities easement (2021, 2023 amendment), fiber optic nodes on city property (2023), and interlocal agreement assignment with Kitsap Sewer District 7 (2026). Partnership for South Bainbridge Reservoirs project.
• Kitsap CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Multiple agreements including Clean Water Kitsap (2024), reimbursable work/equipment rental (2023), telecommunication services (2022), and operation/maintenance of stream gaging stations (2011).
• Central Kitsap Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Interlocal agreement amendment for provision of information technology consulting services (2020).
• Mason County Public Utility District No. 3minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Interlocal agreement amendment for constructing, acquiring, operating, and maintaining wastewater treatment systems (2014), and fiber network intertie first amendment.
• Bainbridge Island Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for South Bainbridge Reservoirs project located at Deerpath Lane. Collaboration to protect vital watershed while improving water service.
• Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for South Bainbridge Reservoirs project including trail improvements, additional parking (up to 12 spaces), and fenced water infrastructure.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tacoma Public Utilities: WA municipal utility providing water, electric power, and rail services to Tacoma and surrounding areas; directly comparable multi-utility structure under public governance with similar scale and service portfolio.
• Tacoma Water: Tacoma's drinking water utility serving approximately 300,000 customers across Pierce County; comparable regulated WA water utility at slightly larger scale with similar source water and treatment profile.
• Seattle Public Utilities: WA municipal utility providing drinking water, drainage/wastewater, and solid waste services across Seattle; directly comparable regulated water/wastewater utility operating under similar public accountability framework.
• Cowlitz County PUD: WA PUD providing electric and wholesale fiber broadband services in Cowlitz County; comparable multi-utility PUD structure with similar public governance and fiber open-access infrastructure model.
• Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet): Existing interlocal partner; wholesale open-access fiber network serving WA public utility districts; directly comparable open-access fiber model and PUD-anchored broadband infrastructure approach.
• Mason County Public Utility District No. 3: Existing interlocal partner; WA PUD providing water, wastewater, and fiber services in Mason County with very similar operational model, including a fiber network intertie agreement with KPUD.
• Snohomish County Public Utility District: Washington State PUD providing electric, water, and fiber internet across Snohomish County; closest comparable as a multi-service WA PUD with similar governance, rate-regulated model, and fiber open-access operations.

Broad incumbents

• Lumen Technologies: National telecom and fiber infrastructure provider (formerly CenturyLink); competes in broadband and enterprise connectivity in KPUD's service area, particularly for wholesale and business-grade services.
• Comcast (Xfinity): National cable and broadband incumbent with significant market share in Kitsap County; competes head-to-head with KPUD Fiber for residential and commercial connectivity customers.
• Ziply Fiber: Regional fiber broadband provider serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana; directly competes in residential and commercial fiber connectivity across overlapping Kitsap County geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Kitsap_PUD1
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kitsap-pud

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Kitsap Public Utility District