Fife, Milton and Edgewood: three cities, three setups

These three neighbors differ: Fife provides water and sewer using Tacoma's supply and treatment, Milton runs its own wells but no sewer, and Edgewood runs no water and has Lakehaven administer its sewer.

Sheet revised November 4, 2026

Fife: a city utility resting on Tacoma

The city's utility FAQ says Fife provides water, sewer and storm drainage. The city's rate page says it buys nearly all its drinking water from Tacoma Public Utilities and pays Tacoma to treat nearly all its wastewater, so Tacoma's rate changes flow through. For 2026 that meant TPU water up 10.32% and sewer up 5.91%. Tacoma's wastewater page lists Fife among the places its Central plant serves. A county planning draft says the county also serves portions of all three cities.

On permits, a city document describes combination building, mechanical and plumbing permits for new houses and additions, with sewer connections under Engineering/Public Works, through the SmartGov portal. Outside-city sewer permit and inspection fees are in-city fees plus 50%, unless an interlocal agreement says otherwise.

Milton: wells yes, sewer no

Milton's water division says five wells draw on underground aquifers for 3,231 connections, with emergency interties to Lakehaven and Mountain View-Edgewood. A 2015 plan counted differently: six wells plus an emergency well. The city does not provide or bill sewer. Pierce County Sewer covers most of it, Lakehaven a small northeast corner, and Tacoma's Central plant treats the wastewater. Milton's building division page places building and plumbing with Planning and Community Development, 253-922-8738, and says Tacoma Public Utilities handles only electrical permits for Milton.

Edgewood: which supplier depends on the map

The city owns no water system. Its utilities page lists Mt. View Edgewood Water Company, City of Milton Water and Lakehaven along Countyline Road, and a city GIS map shows which serves a property. The sanitary sewer page says Lakehaven handles development review, permitting and monthly rates, while Fife serves west of 86th Ave E under a November 5, 2013 agreement. A joint Lakehaven and Edgewood FAQ says Edgewood owns the public sewer facilities inside its boundaries. The city's FAQ says installing, altering or relocating plumbing takes a permit, hose bibs and ice makers included, while like-in-kind basin and toilet replacements are exempt.

Read finding your sewer if your bill does not settle it. Neighboring Federal Way also uses Lakehaven, and permits by place lines up the offices.

Any new trench here starts with 811, as state law requires. Leave public lines and street work to whichever contractor the local utility says it accepts.