KING COUNTY WATER DISTRICT

What KING COUNTY WATER DISTRICT does

King County Water District No. 90 (KCWD90) is a special-purpose municipal water utility organized under Washington State Title 57 RCW and incorporated on August 12, 1952. Headquartered at 15606 SE 128th Street, Renton, Washington, the district holds an exclusive service territory of approximately 15 square miles in unincorporated King County and currently serves over 7,000 direct service connections (~7,800+ accounts). It is governed by a three-member elected Board of Commissioners and managed on a day-to-day basis by General Manager Darcey Peterson.

The district's core product is potable water distribution via a network comprising 14 pressure zones, 8 storage reservoirs, 8 pump stations, 1 water treatment facility, 17 pressure reducing stations, and over 110 miles of transmission and distribution mains. Supply is dual-sourced: approximately 70% is purchased wholesale from Seattle Public Utilities (drawn from the Cedar and Tolt rivers; formalized via Resolution 1154 in June 2026), and the remaining 30% is produced at the district's own groundwater well and treatment facility (currently being expanded under the 2025 Well and Water Treatment Plant Project). All customer premises are metered with Neptune ultrasonic smart meters, and the Neptune 360 Continuous Flow Report is used to flag customers with probable leaks for proactive notification.

KCWD90 monetizes service through bi-monthly billing. A base service charge ($77.00 per period for the 5/8" meter used by over 90% of customers, effective January 1, 2026) includes the first 5 CCF; consumption above that is billed in four tiers ($4.35 to $6.30 per CCF), with a $1.35/CCF summer surcharge in June through September. A reduced rate of $26.25 bi-monthly is available for low-income seniors and disabled customers, and one-time connection/availability fees ($150-$300+) are charged for new service. Payment is accepted via InvoiceCloud (online and phone, with convenience fees), AutoPay (free ACH), mail, drop box, and in person. Ancillary revenue streams include pass-through Puget Sound Energy street-light charges, lien and penalty fees, inspection fees, and developer extension charges. As a Title 57 entity, KCWD90 has no private shareholders and reinvests operating revenue into the system, supporting the current capital program financed in part by up to $5.2M in water revenue bonds (Resolution 1103, 2021).

Name

KING COUNTY WATER DISTRICT

Legal name

King County Water District #90

Website

https://kcwd90.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

King County Water District #90 is a Washington State special-purpose water utility that distributes potable water to over 7,000 residential, commercial, irrigation, and school connections across an exclusive 15-square-mile service area in unincorporated King County, sourced 70% from Seattle Public Utilities and 30% from its own well and treatment facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Water Utility

NAICS

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

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

Keywords

• Water distribution services
• Municipal water utility
• Potable water supply
• Water treatment operations
• Customer billing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Renton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Water Consumption Charges: Bi-monthly water bills charged per hundred cubic feet (CCF) based on tiered consumption. Base rate includes first 5 CCF. Additional consumption billed in tiers: $4.35/CCF for CCF 6-15, $5.00/CCF for 16-25, $5.65/CCF for 26-35, $6.30/CCF for 36+. Summer surcharge of $1.35/CCF added for June-September billing.
2. Base Service Rate: Fixed bi-monthly base charge per meter size. For 5/8 meter, base rate is $77.00 as of January 1, 2026. Base rate includes first 5 CCF of water.
3. Street Light Charges: Legacy Puget Sound Energy (PSE) street light charges collected through water bills and distributed to affected water service customers.
4. Convenience Fees: Third-party payment processing fees charged to customers using InvoiceCloud for online or phone payments: $3.45 per online transaction, $3.95 per phone transaction, $2.95 per ACH/electronic check.
5. Connection and Availability Fees: Water Availability Certificate application fees ranging from $150 for single-family residences to $300 minimum for commercial, fire flow, or subdivision applications. Additional charges may apply if actual district costs exceed stated fees.
6. Service Fees and Penalties: Fees for shut-off/non-payment ($25), after-hours service activation ($125 minimum + $95/hour), insufficient funds ($35), lien filing ($203.50 per page), lien processing ($250), inspection fees ($50), and other administrative charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

King County Water District #90 is a regulated public water utility that delivers potable drinking water through an owned distribution network to residential, commercial, irrigation, and school accounts across approximately 15 square miles of unincorporated King County, Washington. It supplements wholesale supply from Seattle Public Utilities with water produced at its own groundwater well and treatment facility, and supports customers with bi-monthly billing, leak detection, backflow prevention management, conservation programs, and developer extension services.

Product overview

King County Water District #90 is a public water utility providing drinking water distribution services to residential, commercial, and irrigation customers in unincorporated King County near Renton, Washington. The District operates a core water distribution network supplemented by its own groundwater well and treatment facility, serving approximately 7,000+ connections across 15 square miles. Supporting services include billing and payment processing (via InvoiceCloud), backflow prevention management (via BSI Online), leak detection monitoring (via Neptune 360), water quality reporting, developer technical services, and conservation programs. The District is governed by a three-member Board of Commissioners and operates under Washington State water district regulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Distribution Services Potable water delivery service to approximately 7,000+ direct service connections across a 15-square-mile service area, using 14 pressure zones, 8 storage reservoirs, 8 pump stations, 1 treatment facility, 17 pressure reducing stations, and over 110 miles of transmission and distribution mains.
• Groundwater Well and Treatment Facility Owned groundwater well and treatment facility supplying approximately 30% of the district's water under normal operations, complementing the ~70% purchased from Seattle Public Utilities (Cedar and Tolt rivers).
• Billing and Payment Services Bi-monthly customer billing with tiered consumption rates, base service charges, summer surcharges, and multiple payment options including AutoPay from checking, online InvoiceCloud payments, phone payments, mail, and in-person/drop-box.
• Water Conservation Program Conservation services including gardening classes, smart sprinkler timer programs, Saving Water Partnership rebates, and water-efficiency requirements for customers.
• Reduced Rate Program for Low-Income Seniors and Disabled Customers Reduced bi-monthly rate of $26.25 available to applicants 55+ or permanently disabled with household income under $40,000 (single) or $50,000 (two+), with application via form 001067.
• Consumer Confidence Reports / Water Quality Reporting Annual water quality reports (CCR) detailing water sources, quality test results, and comparisons to federal standards, published each spring.
• Water Availability Certificate Application Application service for new water connections and capacity assessments for proposed developments, with fees of $150 for single-family residences and $300 minimum for commercial, fire flow, or subdivision applications.
• Cross Connection Control Program Backflow prevention program managed in partnership with BSI Online to identify properties requiring backflow devices, ensure annual testing compliance per WAC 246-290-490, and coordinate tester filings.
• Leak Detection and Adjustment Service Continuous-flow monitoring using Neptune 360 Continuous Flow Report and one-time leak adjustments for service line repairs, calculated using the customer's three-year consumption history.
• Lead Service Line Inventory EPA-mandated inventory program to identify and track lead service lines from meter to home; district reports it never used lead in service lines from main to meter and that lead service lines were banned in King County in 1968.
• Developer Extension and Technical Specifications Technical specifications and standards governing water main extensions including HDPE and DI water main installations, meter specifications, fire hydrant assemblies, and valve installations, requiring a Developer Extension Agreement.

Quantifiable outcome

• District has grown to over 7,000 direct service connections from 250 at inception in 1956
• +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

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Four Creeks Ranch Water SystemminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2022A consolidation feasibility study was conducted (October 2022) exploring whether the Four Creeks Ranch water system (approximately 150 residents, 60 connections) would consolidate with KCWD90. The study was funded by a WA-Department of Health Consolidation Feasibility Grant. FCR operates under a Satellite Management Agreement with NW Water Systems and has a Time and Materials Contract with KCWD90.
• Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI)coreTechnology or Integration · 23 June 2020KCWD90 partnered with BSI, a third-party contractor, to manage the District's Cross Connection Control Program. BSI provides a web-based tracking program and a more efficient and cost-effective means of managing the district's inventory of backflow prevention assemblies. BSI handles annual test report filings, customer notifications, and tester coordination. Testers must pay $14.95 to file test reports through the BSI portal.
• Seattle Public Utilities (SPU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeattle Public Utilities is the primary water supply partner, providing approximately 70% of KCWD90's water supply. SPU draws water from the Cedar and Tolt rivers. KCWD90 has a wholesale supply contract with SPU (Resolution 1154 adopted June 9, 2026). The district also coordinates with SPU on water quality testing, rates, and regional water supply planning.
• H2O WebsminorOthersKCWD90 is a member of the H2O Webs network of Utility Districts, a website development and hosting service for water and sewer districts provided by BlueDenham.
• Washington Association of Water & Sewer Districts (WASWD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for water and sewer districts in Washington State. KCWD90 Commissioner Sam Amira serves as Director Board member and Treasurer of WASWD.
• American Water Works Association (AWWA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational industry association for water professionals. KCWD90 maintains membership and links to AWWA resources including the Water Wiser drip calculator.
• SE May Valley Road Property Owners (Annexation Petition)minorOthersApproximately 234 property owners in the SE May Valley Road area are being petitioned for annexation into KCWD90's service boundary. The annexation would allow future public water main extensions and fire hydrant installation in the area. Signatures representing 60% of assessed value are required by December 31, 2026.
• King County AssessorminorOthersThe King County Assessor's records provide assessed valuation data for the proposed SE May Valley Road annexation area (approximately $260 million in assessed valuation).
• City of RentoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCWD90 has an intertie agreement with the City of Renton including a portable pump trailer (Resolution 001097, October 13, 2025). The district also transfers service to the City of Renton for certain properties (Resolution 1114). ADUs within the district require permitting through the City of Renton or King County.
• Saving Water PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional water conservation partnership offering rebates for toilets, kitchen and laundry equipment, and irrigation systems. KCWD90 participates and links to their resources including gardening classes and conservation programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Mueller Water Products: Provider of water infrastructure products (valves, hydrants, metering) widely used by small and mid-sized water utilities. Relevant ecosystem supplier for KCWD90's distribution-system operations and capital projects.
• Neptune Technology Group: Smart-meter and AMI vendor whose ultrasonic meters and Neptune 360 platform KCWD90 has deployed. Adjacent ecosystem participant — not a competitor but a critical technology partner for operational efficiency.

Broad incumbents

• Tacoma Water: Large municipal water utility in Washington State serving Tacoma and wholesale customers; comparable operating, regulatory, and capital-program structure, though materially larger in scale.
• Seattle Public Utilities (SPU): Regional water wholesaler that supplies ~70% of KCWD90's water. Larger, broader portfolio utility serving Seattle and wholesale customers; directly relevant as supplier and as a rate-making benchmark.

Direct peers

• Sammamish Plateau Water: Water-sewer district on the Sammamish Plateau serving a similar suburban customer profile in the greater Puget Sound region with comparable tiered rate structures and infrastructure scope.
• Lakehaven Water & Sewer District: Mid-sized water and sewer district in south King County / Pierce County with comparable mix of residential and commercial connections and similar capital-project profile.
• Cedar River Water & Sewer District: Neighboring King County water and sewer utility with similar Title 57 RCW governance, bi-monthly billing approach, and wholesale reliance on regional supply sources.
• Soos Creek Water & Sewer District: King County water and sewer district serving south King County near Renton/Auburn/Kent with comparable scale, residential mix, and distribution-system operating model.
• Highline Water District: Special-purpose water district in King County, Washington serving a similar suburban residential and commercial customer base. Directly comparable in size, regulatory framework (Title 57 RCW), and operating model.

Regional players

• Midway Sewer District: Special-purpose district in the Puget Sound region providing complementary wastewater services; useful comparable for governance, capital-program structure, and rate-setting approach even though it does not provide water.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/King-County-Water-District-No-90-108479187463046/?view_public_for=108479187463046
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/king-county-water-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 KING COUNTY WATER DISTRICT