Long before treated water flowed from household taps in Skagit County, early settlers relied on wells, springs, and the region's abundant rivers for their water needs. The story of how we evolved from those humble beginnings to today's sophisticated water system reflects both our community's growth and its enduring commitment to public resources.

Humble Beginnings

In the early 1900s, as our communities grew beyond simple farming settlements, the need for coordinated water management became clear. Several small, independent water systems emerged in Mount Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro-Woolley, often operated by private companies with varying levels of service and reliability.

The pivotal turning point came during the Great Depression when local leaders recognized that water was too vital to remain in private hands. After extensive community organizing, Skagit Public Utility District No. 1 was officially formed in 1936, making it one of Washington's earliest public water utilities. Since that founding moment, Skagit PUD has remained steadfastly committed to providing safe and reliable utility services to meet the evolving needs of Skagit County.

Building the Infrastructure

The 1940s and 1950s brought rapid expansion as the PUD acquired smaller water systems and began developing a unified network. The Judy Reservoir system, our cornerstone resource, was first developed during this period, capturing pristine water from the Cultus Mountain streams.

Major pipeline projects during the 1960s extended service to rural areas previously dependent on individual wells. This expansion reflected the PUD's mission to ensure all county residents had access to clean, reliable water — not just those in population centers. Today, this commitment to broad service continues, with the PUD's coverage area stretching from Fidalgo Island at the county's west end to Marblemount in the east, and from Alger/Lake Samish in the north down to Conway in the south.

Modern Innovations

The 1970s brought new challenges with the passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act, prompting Skagit PUD to enhance water quality monitoring and testing protocols. As regulations evolved, the PUD constructed its first comprehensive water treatment facility in 1990, incorporating advanced filtration and disinfection technologies to meet increasingly stringent federal standards.

A significant milestone came when Skagit PUD signed the Memorandum of Agreement Regarding Utilization of Skagit River Basin Water Resources for Instream and Out of Stream Purposes (MOA) in 1996. This landmark agreement balanced human water needs with environmental concerns, particularly for fish habitat, demonstrating our commitment to sustainable water management.

The 1990s and early 2000s also saw technological modernization with the implementation of digital monitoring systems and automated controls, allowing for more precise water quality management and distribution efficiency. The PUD further strengthened its source water protection programs through the strategic purchase of land around one of our critical water intakes, while expanding public education efforts about water conservation and quality.

Our Water System Today

Today, our water originates in the protected Cultus Mountain watershed area east of Clear Lake. From this pristine source, water is piped to Judy Reservoir, which covers 148 surface acres and stores approximately 1.5 billion gallons. At the treatment facility, the water undergoes modern filtration and treatment processes to ensure it meets or exceeds all Safe Drinking Water Act requirements before being distributed to customers.

The system now provides an impressive 9 million gallons of clean water daily to approximately 116,000 people throughout the county. While the cities of Mount Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro-Woolley receive the majority of this water, public demand has driven expansion to numerous unincorporated and remote areas of the county.

Community Governance and Legacy

Skagit PUD is governed by three elected commissioners who serve six-year terms, representing the same geographical districts as the Skagit County commissioners. These non-partisan positions, with elections staggered every two years, ensure community representation in the PUD's operations and future planning.

Today's Skagit PUD operates the county's most extensive water system with over 28,000 service connections through more than 600 miles of pipeline and maintains over 31 million gallons of storage volume — a far cry from the scattered systems of a century ago. Yet our fundamental mission remains unchanged: providing safe, reliable water as a public service rather than a private commodity.

The foresight of those Depression-era citizens who formed the PUD has given our community generations of clean water at affordable rates — a legacy that continues to flow through every home, farm, and business in our service area. Whether through utilizing cutting-edge technologies, practicing responsible resource management, or encouraging conservation stewardship, Skagit PUD remains committed to meeting our customers' needs now and for generations to come.