diff --git a/model/bin/switch_meshcap b/model/bin/switch_meshcap
index 97d635b69..7a11c569b 100644
--- a/model/bin/switch_meshcap
+++ b/model/bin/switch_meshcap
@@ -1 +1 @@
-NCO NOGRB DIST MPI OMPG OMPH PR3 UQ FLX0 SEED ST4 STAB0 NL1 BT1 DB1 MLIM FLD2 TR0 BS0 RWND WNX1 WNT1 CRX1 CRT1 O0 O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7 O14 O15 IC0 IS0 REF0
+NCO NOGRB DIST MPI OMPG OMPH PIO PR3 UQ FLX0 SEED ST4 STAB0 NL1 BT1 DB1 MLIM FLD2 TR0 BS0 RWND WNX1 WNT1 CRX1 CRT1 O0 O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7 O14 O15 IC0 IS0 REF0
diff --git a/model/bin/switch_meshcap_pdlib b/model/bin/switch_meshcap_pdlib
index 3b43c7146..6be94e6d0 100644
--- a/model/bin/switch_meshcap_pdlib
+++ b/model/bin/switch_meshcap_pdlib
@@ -1 +1 @@
-NCO PDLIB SCOTCH NOGRB DIST MPI PR3 UQ FLX0 SEED ST4 STAB0 NL1 BT1 DB1 MLIM FLD2 TR0 BS0 RWND WNX1 WNT1 CRX1 CRT1 O0 O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7 O14 O15 IC0 IS0 REF0
+NCO PDLIB SCOTCH NOGRB DIST MPI PIO PR3 UQ FLX0 SEED ST4 STAB0 NL1 BT1 DB1 MLIM FLD2 TR0 BS0 RWND WNX1 WNT1 CRX1 CRT1 O0 O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7 O14 O15 IC0 IS0 REF0 
diff --git a/model/src/CMakeLists.txt b/model/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 9eaa67441..75f3abe97 100644
--- a/model/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/model/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -174,6 +174,10 @@ if("MPI" IN_LIST switches)
   target_link_libraries(ww3_lib PUBLIC MPI::MPI_Fortran)
 endif()
 
+if("PIO" IN_LIST switches)
+  target_sources(ww3_lib PRIVATE ${pio_src})
+endif()
+
 # Handle PDLIB, SCRIP, SCRIPNC build files directly instead of through configuration file
 if("PDLIB" IN_LIST switches)
   if("SCOTCH" IN_LIST switches)
diff --git a/model/src/cmake/src_list.cmake b/model/src/cmake/src_list.cmake
index 825f5d637..00fb33cad 100644
--- a/model/src/cmake/src_list.cmake
+++ b/model/src/cmake/src_list.cmake
@@ -55,19 +55,22 @@ set(ftn_src
   wmupdtmd.F90
   wmwavemd.F90
   w3tidemd.F90
-  wav_history_mod.F90
   wav_shr_flags.F90
   )
 
-set(nuopc_mesh_cap_src
-  wav_kind_mod.F90
+set(pio_src
+  wav_history_mod.F90
+  wav_pio_mod.F90
+  wav_restart_mod.F90
   wav_shr_mod.F90
+  wav_kind_mod.F90
+  wav_import_export.F90
+  )
+
+set(nuopc_mesh_cap_src
   wav_shel_inp.F90
   wav_comp_nuopc.F90
-  wav_import_export.F90
   wav_wrapper_mod.F90
-  wav_pio_mod.F90
-  wav_restart_mod.F90
   )
 
 set(esmf_multi_cap_src
diff --git a/model/src/cmake/switches.json b/model/src/cmake/switches.json
index ca01708af..120da73ef 100644
--- a/model/src/cmake/switches.json
+++ b/model/src/cmake/switches.json
@@ -745,6 +745,17 @@
             }
         ]
     },
+    {
+        "name": "pio",
+        "num_switches": "upto1",
+        "description": "use pio library",
+        "valid-options":[
+            {
+                "name": "PIO",
+                "requires": ["MPI"]
+            }
+        ]
+    },
     {
         "name": "pdlib",
         "num_switches": "upto1",
diff --git a/model/src/w3initmd.F90 b/model/src/w3initmd.F90
index 0f1362277..da95068b3 100644
--- a/model/src/w3initmd.F90
+++ b/model/src/w3initmd.F90
@@ -448,7 +448,9 @@ SUBROUTINE W3INIT ( IMOD, IsMulti, FEXT, MDS, MTRACE, ODAT, FLGRD,  FLGR2, FLGD,
     use w3timemd,        only : set_user_timestring
     use w3odatmd,        only : runtype, restart_from_binary, use_restartnc, user_restfname
     use w3odatmd,        only : logfile_is_assigned
+#ifdef W3_PIO
     use wav_restart_mod, only : read_restart
+#endif
     !/
 #ifdef W3_MPI
     INCLUDE "mpif.h"
@@ -959,6 +961,7 @@ SUBROUTINE W3INIT ( IMOD, IsMulti, FEXT, MDS, MTRACE, ODAT, FLGRD,  FLGR2, FLGD,
     ! 3.a Read restart file
     !
     VA(:,:) = 0.
+#ifdef W3_PIO
     if (use_restartnc) then
       if (runtype == 'continue' )then
         call set_user_timestring(time,user_timestring)
@@ -983,6 +986,8 @@ SUBROUTINE W3INIT ( IMOD, IsMulti, FEXT, MDS, MTRACE, ODAT, FLGRD,  FLGR2, FLGD,
         flcold = .true.
       end if
     else
+#endif
+
 #ifdef W3_DEBUGCOH
       CALL ALL_VA_INTEGRAL_PRINT(IMOD, "Before W3IORS call", 1)
 #endif
@@ -1016,7 +1021,9 @@ SUBROUTINE W3INIT ( IMOD, IsMulti, FEXT, MDS, MTRACE, ODAT, FLGRD,  FLGR2, FLGD,
 #ifdef W3_TIMINGS
       CALL PRINT_MY_TIME("After restart inits")
 #endif
+#ifdef W3_PIO
     end if ! if (use_restartnc)
+#endif
     !
     ! 3.b Compare MAPSTA from grid and restart
     !
diff --git a/model/src/w3wavemd.F90 b/model/src/w3wavemd.F90
index c6b5520d6..f635c2369 100644
--- a/model/src/w3wavemd.F90
+++ b/model/src/w3wavemd.F90
@@ -491,8 +491,10 @@ SUBROUTINE W3WAVE ( IMOD, ODAT, TEND, STAMP, NO_OUT &
 #ifdef W3_TIMINGS
     USE W3PARALL, only : PRINT_MY_TIME
 #endif
+#ifdef W3_PIO
     use wav_restart_mod , only : write_restart
     use wav_history_mod , only : write_history
+#endif    
     use w3odatmd        , only : histwr, rstwr, use_historync, use_restartnc, user_restfname
     use w3odatmd        , only : verboselog
     use w3timemd        , only : set_user_timestring
@@ -2354,7 +2356,9 @@ SUBROUTINE W3WAVE ( IMOD, ODAT, TEND, STAMP, NO_OUT &
       !     Delay if data assimilation time.
       !
       !
+#ifdef W3_PIO      
       if (dsec21(time,tend) == 0.0) then    ! req'd in case waves are running in slow loop
+
         if (use_historync) then
           floutg = .false.
           floutg2 = .false.
@@ -2372,7 +2376,10 @@ SUBROUTINE W3WAVE ( IMOD, ODAT, TEND, STAMP, NO_OUT &
             call write_restart(trim(fname), va, mapsta+8*mapst2)
           end if
         end if
+
       end if
+#endif
+
 
       IF ( TOFRST(1)  .EQ. -1 ) THEN
         DTTST  = 1.
@@ -2524,8 +2531,8 @@ SUBROUTINE W3WAVE ( IMOD, ODAT, TEND, STAMP, NO_OUT &
 #ifdef W3_MPI
             END IF
           END IF
-#endif
         end if ! if (.not. use_restartnc)
+#endif
         !
 #ifdef W3_MPI
         IF ( FLOUT(5) .AND. NRQBP.NE.0 ) THEN