University Place water, sewer, septic and permits

In University Place, the city sends water questions to Tacoma Water and sewer questions to Pierce County, and it handles plumbing permits itself through Planning and Development Services.

Sheet revised November 4, 2026

Who answers for water in University Place?

Tacoma Water, as far as the city's pages go. The city's permit information page says water availability and water permits go to Tacoma Water. We could not confirm that every parcel in the city sits on that system, so use the steps in finding your water supplier if your bill says otherwise.

For Tacoma Water customers, TPU's meter page draws the line: main, service line and meter are TPU's, and everything on the property side is the customer's. TPU's University Place rate page adds a 6.0% city utility tax on water and power, in effect since April 1, 2022.

The city does not run the sewer

Pierce County Utilities provides most sewer service, and the city's sewer and septic page says the city itself provides none. The county's Chambers Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant is inside the city, at 10311 Chambers Creek Road West, according to a county planning document.

The county's FAQ puts the side sewer on the homeowner, all the way from the building to the public main. The county's part is the main, tees included. More on that split is in side sewers.

About 23% of properties have no municipal sewer

The city's page says roughly that share of properties use on-site septic. Tacoma-Pierce County Health is the office for those systems, at 253-798-6470. If you are selling, read selling a septic house early.

Plumbing permits and the order they come in

City guidance says a permit is required for remodels and additions, and it names plumbing and mechanical fixtures. The 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code is the one the city enforces. A building permit waits until sewer and health department permits are out, so a remodel may start with a county call rather than a city one. Neighboring Fircrest runs its pipes quite differently, so a street near the line deserves a second look.

Numbers on the city's who to call list: sewer 253-798-4050, 24-hour sewer emergency 253-798-7000, Tacoma Water permits 253-502-8247, building permits 253-460-2509, inspections 253-460-2540, City Hall 253-566-5656.

Sewage coming up inside: stop using drains, keep people and pets clear, and call the county's 24-hour sewer line. Our own advice on septic: nobody should open a tank or climb into one.