Water History
C. C. (Cliff) Casad
"He Dreamed Nobly - He Built Well"
The history of the Bremerton water system was also the life story of C.C. Casad. Mr. Casad first worked for the City of Bremerton as a seasonal surveyor in the summer of 1905. He became City Engineer in 1921. In 1924 he was elected Commissioner of Public Works and Utilities. From 1924 to 1943 he also filled the positions of City Engineer and Water Superintendent as well as Public Works Commissioner. From 1943 until his death in 1958 Casad was the City's Water Superintendent. The water system as it exists today is a monument to his planning and perseverance, in addition to his genius as a builder. As stated by an inscription on a bronze plaque on the dam for the Union River Reservoir, "He Dreamed Nobly - He Built Well".
Bremerton's Remarkable Resource
The City of Bremerton has a very remarkable resource: a clean, abundant water supply. The City of Bremerton supplies 3.3 billion gallons of water each year to 55,000 people, representing 36% of all the water supplied in Kitsap County.
When the town of Bremerton was incorporated in 1901 with a population of 1000, drinking water came from local wells and springs. With the growth of the area and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, a need for more water emerged. In 1902, a private company diverted water from dams on Charleston Creek and Anderson Creek. In 1917, the City of Bremerton purchased the water system - 600 acres of watershed land and 2 million gallons per day of surface water supply. In the 1920's, improvements to the water system included replacing the wood distribution system with iron pipes and purchasing watershed lands adjacent the Union River.
With the advent of World War II, the population of Bremerton increased from 10,000 to 80,000 in just a few years, drastically increasing water demand. Wells were drilled in an aquifer near Anderson Creek to supplement the water supply. This aquifer continues to be an important water source for Bremerton. In the 1950's the Union River was more fully developed as a water supply. Because of its elevation, water could be delivered by gravity, thus saving power costs. Construction of Casad Dam began in 1955 and took several years to complete. The dam was named after water superintendent C.C. Casad and stands as a monument to his foresight and planning. The reservoir holds 1.4 billion gallons of water and Bremerton now owns and protects 95% of the 3000 acre watershed. The water quality and management of this surface source is so exceptional that Bremerton is one of only a few surface suppliers in the country not required to build a water filtration plant.
Today, 300 miles of pipe delivers an average of 8 million gallons per day to City customers. The Union River reservoir supplies 65% of this water. The other 35% is supplied by production wells. The surface sources on Anderson, Gorst, and Charleston Creeks are no longer regularly used.
Strict regulations required by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act determine how the City operates the water system. The water is chlorinated for disinfection. All operations staff are certified by the state. The water system is regularly monitored for physical, chemical, and bacteriological characteristics to ensure that the water quality is the best possible. The City's system consistently meets all protective standards administered by the Washington Department of Health. Proper construction, maintenance and flushing programs ensures the water stays safe as it is delivered to customers.
The City is proud of this remarkable resource and safeguards its quality and quantity through effective operation, maintenance, monitoring, planning and conservation. The City of Bremerton looks forward to the next century of service to its water customers.
History of Water Piping Materials
Log Mains - used in the late 1800's Very early water systems had water mains made of wood. These mains were usually logs with a hole burned or bored in the center and joined with metal sleeves.
Wood Stave Pipe - used from the late 1800's to 1920's Wood stave pipe was made of slats of wood pieced together in the trench and held together by wound wire. Occasionally, construction crews dig up old pieces of abandoned wood stave pipe in the older parts of town.
Cast-iron Pipe - used from early 1900's to 1950's Gray cast-iron pipe is strong but brittle and usually has a long service life. About 57% of the mains in Bremerton are cast-iron, mostly located in the older parts of town.
Asbestos-cement Pipe - used from 1950's to 1970's AC pipe is light weight, low cost, and low friction. However, EPA discourages the use of AC pipe, even though it does not constitute a health threat when used for water pipe. Only 12% of Bremerton's system is AC pipe which is no longer used in new construction.
Ductile-Iron Pipe - Used from 1970's to present Ductile iron is strong and durable. It is the most commonly used pipe for new construction. Approximately 22% of Bremerton's system is ductile-iron pipe.
Other materials are also used in the water system. Galvanized iron, steel, and concrete are occasionally used. Service lines which run from the water main in the street to the customer's home or business used to be made of copper but are now made of polybutylene plastic.
