Port Orchard: water, sewer, septic and permits

The City of Port Orchard supplies water to most homes and businesses inside its limits, but West Sound Utility District and the Bremerton Water System serve some addresses, so your bill settles it.

Sheet revised November 4, 2026

Who sends water to a Port Orchard address?

Most likely the city, which runs two separate systems inside its limits: the Port Orchard system and the McCormick Woods system. The city's water page says both draw from deep groundwater aquifers. Three neighbors change the answer for some addresses:

• West Sound Utility District borders the city system and serves a majority of East Port Orchard.
• Part of McCormick Woods, north of SW Old Clifton Rd, is on the Bremerton Water System.
• The city's service-area page also names Manchester Water District as another retail provider nearby.

The general method is on finding your water supplier. Addresses beyond the city line are on the South Kitsap sheet.

Two agencies share the sewer work

The city provides sewer within its limits, and West Sound also provides services inside Port Orchard. The two share ownership of the Annapolis treatment plant, the South Kitsap Water Reclamation Facility, and West Sound runs it day to day under contract with the city.

City code, as a search summary gives it, puts the part of a side sewer within a street right-of-way or easement under the city's exclusive control, and makes the part beyond it the sewer customer's responsibility. That summary drew on an older ordinance copy, so confirm the wording before paying for a repair. Side sewers in other places split differently, and those rules do not carry over here.

Permits, availability letters and service past the city line

Plumbing and mechanical applications go through the Permit Center's online guide. An undated city handout says that if another district supplies water or sewer, the building permit application must include that district's availability letter. See how this compares on permits by place.

A city utilities form marked revised 12/06 says city service outside the limits is possible only in the Urban Growth Area, with City Council approval and a 50% surcharge on the bimonthly bill. Ask whether that still stands.

On a septic property, our own advice is to keep out of the tank. Never open one or enter a pit; a certified pumper does that work. More on septic care.