Burien
Burien, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
king county water district #49
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID WA5339800
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 50,467 residents, Burien ranks as the 24th-largest city in Washington and a small but growing city. Water in Burien is sourced chiefly from Cascade snowpack, Columbia River, Yakima River, and groundwater, the backbone of Washington's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: drought. Snowpack-dependent supplies and the Yakima Basin's irrigation needs drive long-term planning despite a wet reputation.
Statewide, Washington recycles about 10% of its wastewater with developing reuse programs. Locally, Burien faces abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.
The Washington state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Burien's water future.
King County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~50,467 (24th-largest in Washington)
- Primary sources: Cascade snowpack, Columbia River, Yakima River, and groundwater
- Drought: abnormally dry to moderate conditions
- State reuse rate: ~10% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Washington in severe+ drought (Moderate (D1) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Burien?
Burien's largest water system, KING COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #49, serves about 16,065 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016. Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Burien get its water?
KING COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #49 draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Washington's supply from Cascade snowpack, Columbia River, Yakima River.
Related water issues
Drought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
ExploreAgricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
ExplorePotable Reuse
Advanced purification turns treated wastewater into water that meets or exceeds drinking-water standards — increasingly essential in water-stressed regions.
ExploreSnowpack Decline
Mountain snow is the West's largest reservoir. As warming shifts snow to rain and melts it earlier, the timing and reliability of water supply are unraveling.
Explore