Edited Jan. 22, noon, to include additional information and to clarify who is being impacted.
EVERETT & MUKILTEO, JAN. 22: The City of Everett will temporarily shut off water to residents near Reservoir 3 for two nights in February as they work on replacing the reservoir.
The shutoff is necessary to modify the existing water pipe configuration at the Reservoir 3 site, 6107 Berkshire Drive, according to a press release from the city. The shutoff will impact 38 residences by the reservoir, according to City Spokesperson Simone Tarver. Water will be shut off from 10 p.m.-10 a.m. on February 19 and 20.
According to Public Information Officer Kathleen Baxter, the shutoff will not impact the cost of your utility bill. The work will be during a time where consumption is low. So, if you anticipate using water during the work hours, they advise you to fill storage containers in advance.
The date and time for the work is subject to change. The city may provide additional notice of shutoff or changes to this timeline at your address.

Below are some tips and things to do before the shutoff:
- Do not turn on faucets or flush toilets during the shutoff. Doing so can introduce air or dirt into your waterline.
- To remove air: Open cold water at all taps until no air is detected.
- If you notice dirty water: Turn on the cold water in the bathtub and allow it to run until clear. This could take up to 30 minutes.
- Tip: Store water for drinking or washing in sanitary containers before the water is shut off.
About the Reservoir 3 Replacement:

During the summer of 2024, Everett Water Utility began to replace the 101-year-old water reservoir that serves two-thirds of the Utility’s customers.
Everett’s 2020 Comprehensive Water Plan conducted a study on Reservoir 3 and found it would likely fail during a large earthquake and regular maintenance would not protect the reservoir. Senior Engineer Randy Loveless said that it would cost more than it was worth to fix it rather than replace it.
Reservoir 3 provides drinking water to city customers south of 41 St, Alderwood, Silver Lake and Mukilteo water districts. The reservoir, in total, serves about 457,000 people.
“We have extended its life to the limit with emergency repairs,” Public Works Director Ryan Sass said. They plan on a “forever infrastructure” in hopes the new reservoirs will last another 100 years.
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.
Phase 1 is expected to be complete by the end of this year. Everett Utility is currently constructing a new 8 million-gallon (MG) reservoir adjacent to the current one.
Later they will demolish the old reservoir and add another 12 MG cylinder reservoir.
100-year-old water reservoir serving Snohomish County to be replaced