From the city 's founding through the 1880s , Seattle 's water was provided by several private companies . 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
Great Seattle Fire
Great Seattle Fire
Seattle Public Utilities