Tacoma Public Utilities

Despite recent hot weather, our overall water supply remains near normal for this time of year. This is largely due to Tacoma Water's management strategies allowing adequate collection in May and June in the Green River Watershed.

However, we still encourage you to use water wisely as daily water consumption increases significantly during the summer months. We're almost halfway through the summer and appreciate all that you're doing!

For more information about our water supply, check out our Water Supply Indicator. The most up-to-date water supply conditions are posted weekly. https://bit.ly/3GW6w5B

The Public Utility Board is meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. Real-time public comment will be available at the start of the meeting.

Attend virtually: https://bit.ly/39kOvNs

The iconic rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a coldwater fish species native to the mountainous streams and lakes of Western North America. These fish are easily identified by their characteristic spots and reddish-pink stripe. Though their colors vary widely between individuals and even within the lifespan of a single individual, described by biologists as phenotypic plasticity. This flexibility allows rainbow trout to quickly adapt to their environment.

Their adaptability is so strong that some of these fish migrate to the ocean, only returning to freshwater to spawn. These fish are commonly known as steelhead trout but are the same species as rainbow trout. Steelhead are not found in the upper Green River watershed because Howard A. Hanson Dam currently blocks fish passage. When a fish passage facility is built, two populations of Oncorhynchus mykiss, above and below the dam, will hopefully interact after 100+ years of separation. It is even possible some rainbow trout upstream of the dam may “become” steelhead once downstream passage is provided.

This will double the accessible habitat in the Green River basin, potentially making it the largest opportunity to increase salmon and steelhead populations in the Puget Sound Region, helping restore habitat and support healthy ecosystems in the watershed, a win-win for fish and people.

We're ONE month away! Come enjoy a night of fun and baseball for TPU Night with the Tacoma Rainiers on August 22nd!

A portion of proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Tacoma Public Utilities Senior Assistance Fund, which will help seniors in our community who are struggling to pay their utility bill. https://bit.ly/3Y1noSr

Become a Safety Champion and drive Continuous Improvement at Tacoma Rail! They are hiring a Senior Safety Consultant to help lead the charge in building a best-in-class safety program.

This position will proactively develop and implement innovative initiatives, leveraging data analysis to shape data-driven strategies and best practices to continuously improve safety and operational efficiency.

This is your chance to make a tangible contribution to a freight rail organization committed to excellence. https://bit.ly/465Ti2h

PROJECT UPDATE: The final touches are being made this month on the water storage tank. The large entryway steel plate for the tank will be welded into place and coated, along with final touch-ups on the exterior of the tank.

The last major coating work will be the floor inside the tank. Site work, such as the access road and fencing, will be installed as space is freed up to perform this work. Startup and testing are expected to begin in September.

Energy efficiency was on full display Friday during The Mountaineers Solar Celebration at the Tacoma Program Center.

The open house celebrated the newly installed solar panel array, battery storage system and electric heat pumps making the historic space a fully net zero energy consumption building. This project was made possible with funding support from The Mountaineers donors and granting partners, including Tacoma Power via the Evergreen Options program.

The Evergreen Options grant is funded by residential and commercial utility customers who are Evergreen Options participants and support renewable energy generation in our region. Programs like Evergreen Options present a vital opportunity to keep development and renewable energy projects local. Residential and business customers can make an impact by joining today. https://bit.ly/3S7Jz5v

You can help choose the next local non-profit to receive a $50,000 grant from Tacoma Power! If you're a Tacoma Power customer, your vote will decide who next in our community will get these funds to help generate their own electricity from renewable resources. Review the proposed projects and cast your vote now. https://bit.ly/3W0GHZo

If you're stopping by the Broadway Market today for some fresh finds, don't forget to say hi! We'll be there from 10 am - 2 pm helping folks make more efficient choices with power incentives and water conservation.

Tacoma Water recently held an emergency response simulation in the Green River Watershed. The response team reacted to an injured person in a remote area by locating, caring for, and moving the individual to be helped by advanced care.

Lands in the municipal watershed are owned by various public and private entities, including Tacoma Water, so helping an injured person is a very practical training scenario. Examples of past incidents included road failures, landslides, and wildfires.

The simulation was a great opportunity for the team to apply safety and response practices and test new equipment functions. Simulated exercises like this are just one of the many things Tacoma Water does to ensure you and your family receive an ample supply of clean reliable water.

Tacoma Rail is establishing a hiring roster for Locomotive Mechanics to inspect, service, and maintain a variety of locomotives in accordance with federal and company regulations, diagnose diesel engine malfunctions and make repairs.

For more information and to apply, visit: https://bit.ly/3XOBIh4.

Heads up, the water is cold! Summer is here, and temperatures will be heating up this weekend. We want visitors to any recreation area, including our reservoirs, to have a terrific – and safe – time in the water. If you choose to take a dip...

💧 Always wear your life jacket.
💧 Never go out in the water alone.
💧 Ease into cold water gradually so your body can get used to the temperature.
💧 Never boat or swim under the influence.
💧 Follow all boater safety regulations.

Happy Independence Day! We wish you a fun-packed and safe holiday. Our lobby and Customer Services phone lines are closed. Emergency lines remain open. We will return to regular business hours on Friday, July 5.

We're proudly flying the Pride Flag this month to celebrate Tacoma Pride! 🏳️‍🌈

2024 is the tenth year the city sponsors its month-long, community-wide Tacoma Pride Festival, celebrating the history, culture, and contributions of our le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual, and two spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) residents.

We invite you to join us in the many July celebrations across the City.

We're kicking off the week with smiles at the Lakewood Farmers Market! Join us today at Fort Steilacoom Park from 2pm-7pm. Whether you're seeking information and resources, or simply want to say hi, we'd love to see you there.

We recently celebrated the installation of new solar panels on low-income rental homes via the Shalom Project, which received a $50,000 Evergreen Options grant from Tacoma Power.

The Shalom Project is a partnership between Peace Lutheran Church in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in West Tacoma, who work together to advocate for climate justice. They seek solutions by implementing projects to reduce carbon consumption and use renewable energy to bring about social change in our communities.

The Evergreen Options grant is funded by residential and commercial power customers who are Evergreen Options participants and want to invest in renewable energy generation in our region. Programs like Evergreen Options present a vital opportunity to keep development and renewable energy projects local.

For we are featuring the Tacoma Public Utilities Administration Building! The building opened in 1953 to provide Light and Water Divisions (now Tacoma Power and Tacoma Water) with a unified location for operations. This included adequate office and workspace, an auditorium, a cafeteria, a customer services center, and more.

Over the years, it's received remodels and additions to keep up with our growing community, but it's still where we call home over 70 years later. Guests interested in checking it out are encouraged to attend the TPU Public Utility Board meetings in the auditorium, which are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month.

Credit for the image goes to Northwest Room at Tacoma Public Library (Richards Studio A83811-8).

TPU Night at the Rainiers is back! Join us on August 22nd at Cheney Stadium to support the Tacoma Public Utilities Senior Assistance Fund, which will help seniors in our community who are struggling to pay their utility bill.

Tickets include a reserved seat, ballpark meal, specially designed T-shirt and a $5 donation to the Senior Assistance Fund. https://fevo-enterprise.com/Event/RainiersTPUNight

Today, we are recognizing Juneteenth to commemorate the abolishment of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans to society.

Our lobby and Customer Services phone lines are closed. Emergency lines remain open. We will return to regular business hours Tuesday, June 20.

A common aquatic species found in the Green River is the mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni). While this fish may look like a carp (cyprinidae), it’s in the same family as Pacific salmon and trout (salmonidae) and was once thought to directly compete with their more popular sports fish cousins.

Instead, they fill a different ecological niche by using their narrow snout and down-turned mouth to consume benthic invertebrates and detritus found in cool, clean, freshwater mountain streams like those in the Green River Watershed.

Help us keep the lights on for Father's Day and your next graduation party! When mylar balloons come in contact with power lines they cause power outages. Tacoma Power experiences balloon-related outages around this time of year, resulting in significant power interruptions to thousands of customers.

If you purchase balloons, handle them carefully and ensure they do not release into the air. Consider using them indoors, tying them to weights, and deflating them when done. If they get caught in power lines, call Tacoma Power at 253-502-8602.

Shoutout to our incredible Community Connection volunteers! They recently lent a hand at the Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity Women Build event, helping grow access to affordable homeownership in our community. We are proud of them for going above and beyond!

Camping season is here! 🏕️ ☀️ We're celebrating by sharing some trivia about our parks and recreational facilities. Leave your answer in the comments, and we'll reply this evening with the correct answer.

A simple walk through your landscape can help you save thousands of gallons of water and lower your water expenses. That’s why it’s important to keep your irrigation system operating in tip-top shape.

👀 Inspect your sprinklers for broken heads and replace them if needed.
💧 Connect hoses, valves, and pipes tightly to avoid leaks.
🌷 Direct the spray on your landscape and not the pavement.
📱 Install a smart irrigation controller that calculates when and how much to water.
💸 Apply for our money-saving rebate on WaterSense-labeled models.

For more ways to save water and money, visit MyTPU.org/YardCare.

If you missed our mix and mingle today, don't worry! We have another one coming up.

Join us next Thursday to meet engineers and engineering techs and explore engineering disciplines, hear about innovative projects, and learn how you can start your career journey with us. Register to attend at https://bit.ly/4akg4oJ.

Tacoma Rail is establishing a hiring roster for Railway Conductors to coordinate the daily activities of train crews; supervise the operation and administration of trains and receive information and instructions for performing work assignments.

For more information about this role and what it's like to work for Tacoma Rail, visit https://bit.ly/47mGzr1.

Around this time each year, our crews often work in dark and stormy conditions. Their job can be hazardous, especially when drivers are not paying attention or are driving distracted.

When you arrive at a work zone, please move over if you can, slow down if you can't, pay attention, and be kind. It's the law. Let's all do our part to keep our workers safe!