EVERETT, APRIL 3: New walls are being poured for the first of two new reservoirs in Everett that will replace the existing Reservoir 3 which provides drinking water to nearly 457,000 people.
In July 2024 the City of Everett broke ground on the $80 million project to replace the 101-year-old Reservoir 3. During the 2020 Comprehensive Water Plan, a study found that the Reservoir would likely fail during a large earthquake, and regular maintenance wouldn’t be enough to sustain the reservoir.
Currently the project is in the first phase. Crews are constructing a new 8-million-gallon (MG) reservoir adjacent to the old one at 6107 Berkshire Drive. Phase 1 is expected to be finished at the end of this year. The new reservoir will stand 21 feet above the ground.
The second phase of the replacement project will demolish the existing 20 MG reservoir and build a new 15 MG reservoir in its place. The new reservoirs will combine to provide 23 MG of storage.
“Replacing Reservoir 3 with two seismically resilient reservoirs is critical to providing people who live in Snohomish County with safe and reliable drinking water and fire flow for public safety, now and into the future,” Operations Superintendent Jeff Marrs said in July.
Reservoir 3 is a critical drinking water reservoir in Everett’s water system and serves water customers south of 41st Street as well as the Alderwood, Silver Lake and Mukilteo water districts.
With the two-reservoir design, Everett Water Utility can deliver water even if one of them is out of service, Marrs said.
This project is expected to cost $80 million. The funds come from water utility bills paid by the city of Everett’s direct customers (20%) and Everett’s wholesale customers (80%). The cost is financed by long-term bonds that are paid over 25 years.
Everett Water Utility finished replacing its 110-year-old Reservoir 2 in 2023, the primary water storage facility for most of the City of Everett north of 45th St.
To follow along with the Reservoir 3 Replacement Project, see the city webpage here.
100-year-old water reservoir serving Snohomish County to be replaced
