The Hidden Cost of Growth: Water Capacity and the Cascade Water Alliance
Demand is set to outpace supply.
As Kirkland plans for its future, one critical resource is getting far too little attention: our water supply.
Every home, apartment, business, and park relies on water. Yet, as housing growth accelerates under the city’s 2044 Comprehensive Plan, our shared water infrastructure is being pushed to its limit, with insufficient public discussion about the consequences.
This article is part of a community-generated effort by Cherish Kirkland. We collaborated with one of our members, who has decades of professional experience in regional water infrastructure, to bring this important concern to the forefront. It serves as a powerful reminder of the intelligence, care, and commitment present throughout our group.
Why Water Matters More Than Ever
Kirkland is one of seven members of the Cascade Water Alliance (CWA), a regional partnership that manages the drinking water supply for over 380,000 people. Members include Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Tukwila, Skyway, and the Sammamish Plateau Water District.
Cascade currently delivers 33.3 million gallons per day (MGD) to its members through a contract with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). That figure drops to 31.1 MGD by 2040, coinciding with the peak growth plans of many cities, including Kirkland. However, during that time, CWA will need well over 40 MGD to meet growth demands. Where will the balance come from?
Cascade also holds a secondary contract with Tacoma Public Utilities for an additional 8 million gallons per day (MGD) and owns the rights to Lake Tapps as a future municipal water source. However, neither of these systems is physically connected yet, and building out the necessary infrastructure, pipelines, reservoirs, and water treatment facilities is expected to cost around $1 billion.
Lake Tapps is currently a recreational lake surrounded by residential homes, meaning its water will require significant treatment before it’s safe for drinking. That level of infrastructure is still decades away from becoming operational.
In the meantime, Kirkland and its neighbors will be drawing from the same shrinking pool.
The Numbers Behind the Concern
Right now, Kirkland uses about 5.7 MGD, which is roughly 17% of Cascade’s current SPU allocation. That usage once aligned with our planned growth.
But under the city’s new housing targets, demand will surge:
Projected increase from 13,200 new housing units by 2044 (GMA target): +2.26 MGD
Maximum growth scenario proposed during the development of the comp plan (up to 38,000 surplus units): +7.25 MGD total water demand
If Kirkland reaches its high-growth scenario, we could end up requiring nearly 25% of Cascade’s SPU water capacity, leaving just 75% for the six other cities on the same system. And we’re not alone in pushing the limits. Cities like Bellevue are already planning for growth that far exceeds their state-mandated targets, compounding the pressure on a finite regional water supply.
If every city inflates its growth targets, will there be enough water? In other words, are we trading growth for livability, living on a lake with not a drop to drink?
Shared System, Shared Risk
The Cascade Water Alliance operates as an open-access system, meaning no member has a fixed share. Any city can draw what it needs until the system is at risk of being overdrawn.
If that happens, every city, including Kirkland, faces water curtailments, regardless of who caused the excess demand.
Meanwhile, other member cities such as Redmond are already warning that their groundwater wells may not be sufficient, leading to a greater reliance on Cascade’s shared supply, just as Kirkland plans its expansion.
This is more than a local issue; it’s a regional pinch point. Until now, Penny Sweet has represented Kirkland on the Cascade Water Alliance, but she is not seeking re-election. Who we elect next matters more than ever. Growth can’t be driven by ideology or wishful thinking; it must be grounded in pragmatism, infrastructure realities, and long-term sustainability. We need representation that’s willing to ask the hard questions, push for coordination with our neighboring cities, and protect the livability of Kirkland for generations to come.
What You Can Do
As a voter, you deserve to know where candidates stand on infrastructure readiness, especially water. Ask them:
Do you support a detailed water impact study before expanding density?
Will you coordinate with CWA and other cities before overcommitting Kirkland to growth?
Do you believe we should grow at a pace that matches actual infrastructure, not just political ambition?
Water is not an afterthought.
It is the foundation of a livable city.
Before we change our skyline, let’s make sure we’re not draining our future.
And thank you to the members of Cherish Kirkland, especially those with deep knowledge and thoughtful engagement, for helping all of us better understand what’s at stake. Your contributions continue to strengthen this community, making it smarter and more prepared to shape its own future.
Last city meeting regarding Cascade Water Alliance: May 21, 2024.
Attached is the memo informing the meeting: