Drinking Water Reservoirs

We operate several water storage facilities downstream of our Cedar River and Tolt River source water treatment facilities. These locations provide us with the capabilities and flexibility to provide clean and consistent water service to your tap.

We have replaced six open reservoirs with underground structures to improve the quality and security of our water supply. The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department constructed recreational open space improvements over the covered reservoirs. The reservoir covering program provided 90 acres of new open space, including Magnolia (Magnolia Manor Park), Lincoln (Cal Anderson Park), Myrtle (Myrtle Reservoir Park), Beacon (Jefferson Park), West Seattle (Westcrest Park), and Maple Leaf (Maple Leaf Reservoir Park).

Roosevelt and Volunteer Reservoirs remain uncovered and are now disconnected from the rest of the drinking water system. They provide critical emergency water resources for our customers. For example, in the event of a major earthquake, the reservoirs would serve as a vital source for emergency water and fire-fighting purposes.

Contact Matt Orr at matt.orr@seattle.gov or (206) 733-9169 for general information, or contact Andrew Karch at andrew.karch@seattle.gov or (206) 684-4643 for information about the Lake Forest Park Reservoir Covering Project.