Portland transitions to primary water source, the Bull Run Watershed

Press Release

Annual maintenance operation for our secondary groundwater source is complete

The Portland Water Bureau returns to providing 100 percent Bull Run waterto Portlanders today. It can take up to two weeks to receive 100 percent Bull Run water, depending on your location.

On August 1, 2024, we activated our secondary water source, the Columbia South Shore Well Field, to perform the annual maintenance operation of the groundwater system.

The annual maintenance operation is an opportunity to identify maintenance needs and ensure that groundwater equipment is operational. It ensures the reliability of the system when needed, either in an emergency or as part of seasonal supply augmentation.

"Careful planning ensures we can continue to provide our community with the safe, clean drinking water it relies on," Portland Water Bureau Acting Director Edward Campbell said. "The annual groundwater maintenance run is just one piece of that work."

We will continue to monitor supply conditionsand will notify you if groundwater is needed later in the season to supplement the Bull Run supply.

Water system investments matter

Our ability to reliably provide clean, safe water for future generations depends on ongoing investmentsin our water system.

Ratepayer funding makes it possible for the bureau to tap two sources of clean, reliable drinking water to adapt to a changing environment. The Columbia South Shore Well Field is a valuable resource when our ability to provide drinking water from the Bull Run source is affected by an emergency-such as a fire or extreme storm in the watershed-or by seasonal limitations such as low stream flows or extended dry spells.

Thankful for the water experts who make it happen

Supplying drinking water to nearly one million Oregonians requires a dedicated, highly skilled workforce. The Portland Water Bureau employs about 600 people.

"When you turn on the tap and the water is safe and abundant, it's easy to overlook the complex work that makes it happen," said Kimberly Gupta, Director of Operations. "Certified operators, engineers, construction crews, customer service staff, scientists, lab techs-the list of specific expertise is long. These public servants work hard every day to continually protect our health and safety."