These arrangement soon proved inadequate . On September 24 , 1888 , Mayor Robert Moran urged the city council to call an election to " determine finally whether this city is to have an abundant supply of pure water at cost , or continue to pay tribute to private individuals on all water used in the future . " In a July 8 , 1889 election , barely a month after the Great Seattle Fire ( June 6 , 1889 ) gave a dramatic illustration of the limitations of the city 's water supply , Seattle 's citizens voted 1,875 to 51 to acquire and operate their own water system . In accordance with this vote , the city Water Department acquired the Lake Union and Spring Hill plants for $ 400,000 . These plants saw the city through until the 1901 completion of Cedar River Supply System No. 1
Great Seattle Fire
Great Seattle Fire
Utilities of Seattle