Reservoirs are storage tanks that buffer strain on the water supply system during peak demands, store water for firefighting and allow for continuous service during brief supply shutdowns. As population grows, we need to be able to store more water. Based on regulations and industry standards, Bellevue will need additional reservoir volume sometime after 2030 to serve anticipated growth in downtown, BelRed and other areas.
The City has already exhausted other alternatives to constructing more storage, including updated efficiency standards that reduce demands, and construction of added transmission capacity to access available storage elsewhere in the system. That work improved redundancy and extended the anticipated deadline (from 2020 to after 2030), but new storage still must be planned and built.
Opportunity for public input
The City is considering these neighborhoods—shown in the map—for the new drinking water reservoir. The City will select one of these neighborhoods based on the following criteria:
- Technical feasibility
- Community benefits and impacts
- Operational impacts
- Costs
- And other factors
A new reservoir would affect neighbors, particularly during construction, but we are interested in finding ways for it to offer meaningful, long-term benefits to the neighborhood as well.
To learn more about the study and public engagement to date, please visit the EngagingBellevue.com page for this project. There you will find detailed information about each potential site, including conceptual renderings, as well as Frequently Asked Questions. At the conclusion of project milestones, we will provide updates on how stakeholder input has been considered and addressed in project decisions.
Timeline
Initial Engagement: May-July 2022
- Walk-and-talks or small meetings with neighbors of potential sites
- Collecting comments/feedback from neighbors via paper and electronic forms
Feedback will be used in the development of criteria for evaluating alternatives.
Alternatives Identification and Analysis: July 2022 - January 2023
- Follow-up emails to community members
- Collecting comments/feedback from neighbors via paper and electronic forms
Feedback will update our understanding of community interests and priorities.
Alternatives Evaluation: November 2022 - January 2023
- Community-wide Survey: Available on Engaging Bellevue from November 7, 2022 to January 13, 2023
-
Online Open House: November 29, 2023. Feedback will inform the City's evaluation and selection of a preferred option.View recording of the Online Open House:
Alternatives Evaluation and Selection: March-July 2023
- Launch web-based storymap with interactive maps and digital content
- Follow-up emails to community members
Feedback will inform city's plans for mitigation of any expected impacts.