Obtaining Water Service

Types of Project Actions: New commercial construction, new residential development, and renovation of an existing facility to use for a new purpose

1. Enter into a System Extension Application and Agreement (SEA)

2. Water Main Design; Plan Review and Approval

3. Preconstruction and Construction

4. Post Construction: Administrative Items to Complete the SEA

5. Residential WAC for Individual Lots within the Development

6. Meter Application & Installation

I.      Enter into a System Extension Application and Agreement (SEA)

If CWD has required the developer to install a water main or other changes to the water system to obtain water service, the developer must enter into a SEA with CWD and satisfy all the conditions.

• Contact CWD Project Administrator to prepare the SEA package. Required information includes preliminary plans and proposed number & sizes of water meters.

• The SEA package is sent to the developer for review and signature.

• The developer submits the signed and notarized SEA package with appropriate deposit.

• CWD Board of Water Commissioners (Board) issues a resolution approving the SEA.

Contact: Contract Administrators at 253-631-0565 ext.145 or systemextensions@covingtonwater.com.

Back to Top

II.      Water Main Design; Plan Review and Approval

• Hire a licensed Civil Engineer to design the water main and other facilities to be installed.

• Plan review process will start after the SEA is approved by CWD Board.

• Schedule a pre-design meeting with CWD staff engineers prior to the start of water main design.

• Plans must conform to CWD Standards and Specifications and other requirements by local jurisdictions.

• Return period and number of review cycles depend on the quality of the submitted plans. Engineering notes and requirements are listed in the Engineer/Contractor Information Sheets.

• Fire Marshal’s approval of the plans is required prior to final approval by CWD.

Contact: CWD Staff Engineers at 253-631-0565 or engineering@covingtonwater.com.

Back to Top

III.      Preconstruction and Construction

• Hire a licensed contractor for construction of the water system improvement and inform CWD of the contractor’s name, address, and phone number.

• Provide easements to CWD for any improvements located outside project boundary and public ROW.

• The contractor or engineer provides CWD traffic control plans for ROW permit application (if needed). CWD will make an application to the appropriate jurisdiction.

• Material Submittals are required for CWD review and approval.

• A Preconstruction Meeting requires 5 working days advance notice. The meeting can be requested only when all applicable requirements have been received.

  • All applicable ROW permits received

  • CWD Approval of Material Submittals

  • CWD Approval of water extension plans

• The developer and contractor must attend the preconstruction meeting to discuss the construction schedule, standards, requirements, and start date.

• A Meter Installation, Application, & Agreement Form will be provided to the developer for commercial projects at the Preconstruction Meeting.

• No deviation from the approved plans will be allowed. A request for any plan changes must be made by the engineer and approved by CWD.

• CWD Inspector will regularly be present at the site to inspect the construction for conformance with plans and Standards.

• CWD will perform required tests and final inspection.

• See notes and requirements for ROW permit application, material submittals, and construction in the Engineer/Contractor Information Sheets.

Contact: Contract Administrators at 253-631-0565 ext.145 or systemextensions@covingtonwater.com.

Back to Top

IV.      Post Construction: Administrative Items to Complete the SEA

• Bill of Sale

• CC&R’s

• Connection Charges

• Developer Receivable Account

• Easements

• Lien Releases

• Maintenance Bond

• Record Drawings

• ROW permit signed off as complete

• Recorded Plat

Contact: Contract Administrators at 253-631-0565 ext.145 or systemextensions@covingtonwater.com.

Back to Top

V.      Residential Water Availability Certificate (WAC) for Individual Lots within the Development

• After the SEA has been accepted, each lot must have a separate Water Availability Certificate (WAC) for a building permit.

• A WAC application form can either be mailed, picked up at CWD, or downloaded here (MS Word document) Applications can be requested in increments of 10 to 15 at a time.

• Processing and application fee must be paid at time of submittal.

• For accepted projects, CWD has as-builts on file and site plans will not be required.

Contact: Contract Administrators at 253-631-0565 ext.120 or wateravailability@covingtonwater.com.

 Back to Top

VI.      Meter Application & Installation

Residential Plats

• Homeowner comes to CWD front desk, requests and completes the Meter Installation, Application, & Agreement Form, as the control numbered forms cannot leave CWD office.

• CWD verifies if the property was included in the CWD Board accepted project.

• Submit the form and pay drop-in installation fee for dual meters.

• CWD will install the meters in approximately 2-3 weeks from date of submittal.

Commercial Projects

• The developer completes the Meter Installation, Application, & Agreement Form at the Preconstruction Meeting and pays for applicable meters. Notify CWD Project Administrator in advance of the meeting with size and numbers of the proposed water meters.

• The contractor installs any required backflow prevention devices, has them tested by a state certified tester, and gets approval from CWD’s backflow prevention specialist.

• CWD delivers the meters and the contractor installs them. The meters will be locked until the project is accepted by CWD Board.

Contact: Contract Administrators at 253-631-0565 ext.145 or systemextensions@covingtonwater.com.

Back to Top