Bellevue, Washington Water Outage Today
Live Bellevue water outage reports, Bellevue Utilities’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Bellevue, Washington in the last 24 hours
Who supplies water in Bellevue?
Drinking water in Bellevue, Washington is supplied by Bellevue Utilities, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in Washington are regulated by the Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water.
To report no water or a main break, call Bellevue Utilities at 425-452-7840.
Who runs the water in Bellevue: system profile
City of Bellevue is the water system EPA lists for Bellevue, serving about 321,349 people. Customers know it as Bellevue Utilities; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | City of Bellevue (WA5305575) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 321,349 through 73,007 service connections |
| Source of the water | Purchased surface water |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 4 active wells, 1 treatment point |
| Connections to other systems | 4 |
| State regulator | Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 0 |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Where Bellevue's tap water comes from
Bellevue does not collect its own raw water. City of Bellevue buys surface water from City of Redmond Water System, Coal Creek Utility District, and Seattle Public Utilities and distributes it through its own mains.
The outage angle. Problems can start outside the city: if City of Redmond Water System has to shut a main or its plant, Bellevue can run short even though nothing is wrong with the local pipes. Follow alerts from the supplier and from Bellevue Utilities.
Why the water goes out in Bellevue
These are the causes that match the record for Bellevue, listed roughly in order of how much they matter here.
- Freezing weather. Bellevue sees about 28 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 1 day at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on January 13, 2024. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 4 days, ending December 29, 2021. Frost pushes into shallow service lines first. Mains follow when the ground heaves and thaws, which is why break counts climb a day or two after the temperature swings.
- Digging and utility work. Street projects, fiber installation and excavation near buried pipe regularly cut mains in Bellevue with no warning, usually on a day with perfectly ordinary weather.
- Planned shutoffs and a problem at one address. Valve replacements and new connections are announced ahead, often with door hangers. If neighbors have water, check your own shutoff valve, meter and pressure regulator before calling.
How weather strains the Bellevue water system
Main break season in Bellevue runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around January through March.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 27.5 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 1.1 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 1.5 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 0.3 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0.2 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 5 |
| Average annual precipitation | 50.2 in |
| Wettest year | 2016 (57.2 in) |
| Driest year | 2019 (35.5 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | January 13, 2024 |
| Hottest day in the record | June 28, 2021 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in February, averaging 7.9 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2016 with 57.2 inches; the driest was 2019 with 35.5. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
A note on the numbers: they are modeled for the city center and averaged over eleven years, so they show how often Bellevue sees each kind of weather, not what any one thermometer read on a given day.
Bellevue boil water notices and EPA compliance record
EPA lists no health-based violations for City of Bellevue since 2015.
A boil water notice in Bellevue is a separate thing from a violation. Bellevue Utilities issues one when pressure falls low enough for contamination to enter the pipes, after a main break is repaired, or when a routine test comes back positive. The Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water oversees the process, and the notice stays until clean samples come back, usually a day or two after pressure returns.
Lead, older pipes and water quality in Bellevue
The age of the housing matters more than the utility's test average: 29.5% of occupied homes in Bellevue predate 1970 and 1986 was the year lead pipe and solder were banned. Flush the cold tap after an outage and ask Bellevue Utilities whether your service line is on its lead inventory.
Restoration times for water outages in Bellevue
A crew that arrives at an ordinary main break in Bellevue usually needs 4 to 8 hours to isolate the pipe, dig, repair, flush and restore pressure. Large transmission mains, deep pipes and breaks under busy streets can take a day or more. With 321,349 people on the system, a break on a main that feeds a whole district can leave thousands of homes dry at once, and crews may close valves several blocks away to isolate it.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | The posted window, though crews often finish ahead of it |
| Ordinary main break | Half a day once the crew has isolated the pipe |
| Large or deep main | One to three days, longer if parts must be ordered |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | As long as the outage itself, plus a few hours to refill tanks |
| Boil water notice after service returns | About 24 to 48 hours, until lab tests are clean |
| Frozen service line or meter | Hours if you can thaw it, longer if the pipe has split |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
For a break that affects many customers, Bellevue Utilities usually posts an estimated restoration time. When you call, ask the dispatcher what the crew has told them.
Emergency water storage for Bellevue households
Census figures put the typical Bellevue household at about 2.5 people. At one gallon per person per day that is 7 gallons for three days or 34 gallons for a two-week supply.
- 29.1% of homes are in buildings with 20 or more units. Upper floors lose pressure first, and rooftop tanks and booster pumps depend on building power.
- A standard water heater is a ready-made 40-gallon reserve. Shut off its power or gas, open a hot tap somewhere in the house, and draw from the drain valve.
- Fill a tub or large containers early for toilets, cleaning and handwashing, and store drinking water separately in clean bottles.
Bellevue versus neighboring water utilities
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, WA | City of Bellevue | 321,349 | Bought (surface) | 0 | – |
| Seattle, WA | Seattle Public Utilities | 1,161,961 | Surface | 1 | 4.1 |
| Renton, WA | City of Renton | 108,091 | Ground | 0 | 1.9 |
| Kent, WA | Kent Water Department | 166,421 | Bought (surface) | 0 | 1 |
| Tacoma, WA | City of Tacoma Water Division | 446,170 | Surface | 0 | 2.1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Where to find official Bellevue water notices
Official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil advisories comes from Bellevue Utilities, not from this page. Our water outage guide explains what each kind of notice asks you to do.
Bellevue quick answers about water service
Who do I call about no water in Bellevue?
Bellevue Utilities at 425-452-7840, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Where does Bellevue get its water?
EPA records for City of Bellevue say Bellevue relies on purchased surface water. It buys from City of Redmond Water System, Coal Creek Utility District, and Seattle Public Utilities.
Can you drink the tap water in Bellevue?
EPA lists no health-based violations for City of Bellevue since 2015. If the utility issues a boil notice, boil water until it announces the all-clear.
When do water mains break most in Bellevue?
Cold weather drives most breaks in Bellevue, which averages about 28 freezing days a year. Expect the most calls from January through March, especially a day or two after a hard freeze when the ground thaws.
Why is my water pressure low in Bellevue?
A sudden drop usually means a break or valve problem nearby, while a slow decline in the evening points to demand. If the whole street is affected, tell Bellevue Utilities; if not, look at your own regulator and shutoff.
How long does a boil water notice last in Bellevue?
Usually 24 to 48 hours after pressure is restored. The utility has to collect samples, wait for the lab to confirm there is no bacteria, and then announce the all-clear. Bellevue Utilities posts notices and lifts them; the Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water oversees the process.
How many gallons of emergency water does a Bellevue family need?
One gallon per person per day is the FEMA minimum. For Bellevue that means about 7 gallons to cover three days for an average household of 2.5, and 34 gallons for two weeks.
Does Bellevue have lead pipes?
29.5% of occupied homes in Bellevue were built before 1970, and lead service lines were not banned until 1986. Ask Bellevue Utilities whether your service line is on its lead inventory, and use a filter certified for lead if you are unsure.
Where can I see water outages in Bellevue?
There is no pipe-level map on this site. The report counter above reflects what residents of Bellevue have sent in over the last day, and Bellevue Utilities has the official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil notices.
More outage pages for Bellevue and nearby
Other outage types in Bellevue
Water Service Outages in cities near Bellevue
- Seattle, WA 6 mi · Seattle Public Utilities
- Renton, WA 9 mi · City of Renton Water Utility
- Kent, WA 16 mi · City of Kent Water
- Everett, WA 25 mi · City of Everett Public Works
- Tacoma, WA 27 mi · Tacoma Water
- Yakima, WA 106 mi · City of Yakima Water
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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