The South Sound Pipe Atlas

5 Sheet 5 of 17 · Pierce County

Fox Island: water, sewer and septic

No single water supplier is confirmed for Fox Island; Fox Island Mutual Water Association and a Washington Water system both exist, one development has sewer, and Pierce County handles plumbing permits.

Sheet revised November 4, 2026

A long low bridge crossing the water in the distance, with tide flats and gravel in front and a fir-covered shore behind.
The Fox Island Bridge from the shore at low tide.

Who does what here

Water

Fox Island Mutual Water Association and a Washington Water system are named; check your bill for yours. source

Sewer

County documents describe one sewered system, Panoramic Views, with no new connections anticipated. source

Septic

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department or the state Department of Health, depending on system size. source

Permits

Pierce County Planning and Public Works; residential plumbing permits are applied for online. source

Plumbers

Washington's Department of Labor & Industries certifies plumbers statewide. Check a plumber

Two named water systems, and gaps between them

The names on record are what we can give you. Pierce County's 2020 emergency plan names Fox Island Mutual Water Association as a public water system. A county presentation lists it among mutual systems, which are governed by their boards under RCW Title 24.06. Washington Water's system list also includes one called Fox Island, though how far it reaches was not stated.

Peninsula Light says water used on the peninsulas comes from the deepest aquifers beneath them, and that the area has hundreds of independent systems. That statement is about the peninsulas in general, not this island.

If you get no water bill, you may be on a private well. The health department cites WAC 173-160 for private wells. Private and small-group wells explains testing, and finding your water supplier explains the lookup.

A barge with a tall steel tower floating on calm water in front of forested shore and a few waterfront houses.
A work barge in the water off Fox Island.

Sewer here is one development

County sewer documents describe a single sewered system on the island: Panoramic Views, a development at the island's south end that drains to one large on-site system. The county expects no new connections to it. Everyone else should find out how their house drains using the sewer or septic steps.

The county sewer utility says it does not review, approve or permit septic systems. Depending on size, that falls to Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department or the state Department of Health.

Plumbing permits and shoreline questions

Pierce County has jurisdiction in unincorporated areas, so the island's plumbing permits are county permits. Compare the offices on permits by place.

For a house on a bluff or shoreline, take drainage and septic placement questions to the county before work starts. Bluffs and shorelines sets out who answers what.

Please stay out of septic tanks: our own rule is never open one, and nobody climbs in. Near a bluff, ask Pierce County before moving water or soil.

Check your own address

  1. Find the system name on your water bill.
  2. Search your parcel on the Pierce County public GIS map, then select Utilities and Water Purveyors.
  3. Ask Washington Water's Gig Harbor office, (253) 851-4060, whether your address is on its Fox Island system.
  4. Request your septic as-built from Tacoma-Pierce County Health, 253-798-6470.

Over the water and next door

Source notes

  1. Washington Water, Water systems. Checked November 4, 2026.
  2. Pierce County, ESF-3 Public Works and Engineering. Seen only as a search summary on November 4, 2026; confirm on the page.
  3. Pierce County, Regional water cooperative presentation. Seen only as a search summary on November 4, 2026; confirm on the page.
  4. Peninsula Light, Water services. Seen only as a search summary on November 4, 2026; confirm on the page.
  5. Pierce County, 2022-2042 Sewer Improvement Program. Seen only as a search summary on November 4, 2026; confirm on the page.
  6. Pierce County, Residential permits. Seen only as a search summary on November 4, 2026; confirm on the page.
  7. Tacoma-Pierce County Health, Rules and regulations. Seen only as a search summary on November 4, 2026; confirm on the page.
  8. Pierce County, Public records. Seen only as a search summary on November 4, 2026; confirm on the page.
  9. City of Gig Harbor, Local utility providers. Seen only as a search summary on November 4, 2026; confirm on the page.
  10. City of University Place, Sewer and septic services. Seen only as a search summary on November 4, 2026; confirm on the page.