Reservoir Covering Program
Maple Leaf Reservoir Construction - September 2011 (Photo by Aequalis Photography)Program Overview
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is replacing its open reservoirs with underground structures that will improve the quality and security of our water supply and provide 76 acres of new open space. View the Reservoir Covering Program Fact Sheet (pdf).
In addition to five reservoirs that have already been replaced with underground structures (Magnolia, Lincoln, Beacon, Myrtle and West Seattle), the City has scheduled one more for replacement by 2013 (Maple Leaf), and is evaluating whether to bury or decommission two other sites (Volunteer and Roosevelt).
Seattle Parks & Recreation (Parks) is working on plans to eventually transform the new open space into full-fledged parks. For more information about the Parks master planning processes, please see links to the Seattle Parks & Recreation Web site listed on the bottom of the page.
Project Update
Maple Leaf Reservoir Project Update
- Project Fact Sheet (pdf)
The West Seattle Reservoir went into service July, 2010.
- By covering the 30,000,000-gallon West Seattle Reservoir, citizens will have 20 acres of new open space. The new park is in design development and a construction schedule will be announced this fall.
Background
The importance of providing increased protection for our water system was highlighted by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Underground reservoirs are the most secure.
The City began installing floating covers at some reservoirs in the late 1990’s. While floating covers improve water quality, they raised concerns about security and visual impacts.
These issues led to the proposal to replace the City’s remaining uncovered reservoirs with safer, more secure underground facilities and use the remaining open space as parks. The City Council approved the plan in 2004, after SPU found the underground reservoir program would cost roughly the same as installing floating covers with improved security measures added.
Costs and Funding
Cal Anderson Park above Lincoln Reservoir
SPU expects the total cost for the final four reservoirs in the program (Beacon, Myrtle, Maple Leaf and West Seattle) to total $150 million.
Open Space
As part of the underground program costs, SPU will cover the reservoirs with grass and other low-maintenance plants so that communities can use the new open space immediately.
Parks will look for funding sources and work with communities to design and build new parks and recreation facilities at the underground reservoirs. Park projects will be completed as money becomes available.
Parks began construction of Jefferson Park (at the Beacon Reservoir site) in 2009. That project is being paid in part by the 2000 ProParks Levy.
Remaining Above-Ground Reservoirs
The underground program allows SPU to meet water storage needs while reducing the size of some reservoirs and closing one or two others. Floating covers that have been installed at the Bitter Lake and Lake Forest Park reservoirs will remain in place. SPU has increased security at those facilities
Contact Information
For information about the reservoir program, contact Stephanie Murphy, Reservoir Program Manager, at (206) 386-9778 or stephanie.murphy@seattle.gov.
For information about park projects, contact Dewey Potter, Communications Manager, at (206) 684-7241 or dewey.potter@seattle.gov.
For information about Jefferson Park, contact Kim Baldwin, Jefferson Park Project Manager, at (206) 684-7035 or kim.baldwin@seattle.gov.
Links on other sites
Maple Leaf Reservoir Parks and Green Spaces Levy Project Information
Myrtle Reservoir Development Pro Parks Project Information
Seattle Parks & Recreation Jefferson Park Master Plan
Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water
Reservoir Undergrounding – Ordinance 121447
Funding of Reservoirs and Parks – Ordinance 120899