Metropolitan Water Market Development: Seattle, Washington, 1887–1987
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 114, Issue 2
Abstract
In many metropolitan areas it is common for a large central city to sell water to many of its surrounding suburban communities. In the Seattle, Washington metropolitan region, the city (population 494,000) provides water to 34 suburban cities and water districts with a total population of roughly 596,000. The development of this water market has its origins in the geographic pattern of metropolitan population and institutional development, water law, the economies of scale of water production, and the economic scarcity of clean, inexpensive water sources. Management and long‐range planning for such a system are reviewed and the advantages and disadvantages of this market system for Seattle and its customers are discussed. The de facto regionalization of the metropolitan water supply is contrasted with the de jure regionalization of metropolitan Seattle's wastewater system, which is managed jointly by the region's governments.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 114 • Issue 2 • March 1988
Pages: 223 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © 1988 ASCE.
History
Published online: Mar 1, 1988
Published in print: Mar 1988
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