Filtration Facility Under Construction Boosts Wildfire Resilience
In August two years ago, the Camp Creek fire burned more than 2,000 acres in the Bull Run Watershed, which is the primary water source for Portland. Thanks to the hard work of local firefighting agencies, the Forest Service, and Water Bureau staff, we were able to continue providing water throughout the incident. As our region experiences hotter, drier summers, the Bull Run Watershed, like the rest of the area, is increasingly vulnerable to wildfires.
The Portland Water Bureau is building a new filtration facility for the Bull Run Watershed to strengthen our water system and plan ahead. This facility will help ensure that Oregonians throughout the region have clean drinking water during and after wildfires.
Today water from Bull Run water is unfiltered. Heavy rain can wash dirt, plant debris, ash, and other organics into our streams and reservoirs. This can be more pronounced following a wildfire. Adding filtration will make us better prepared to address this in the future.
When the new filtration facility is in operation, it will use a multistep treatment process to filter sediment out of the water and allow us to more quickly recover after a fire, landslide, volcanic activity, or extreme weather event.
Learn more about how the new filtration facility will make us better prepared for wildfires, protect public health, and build climate resilience for Portland’s future: http://bit.ly/4mzDeNz
 Filtration Construction update
Construction on the Bull Run Filtration Project is moving forward steadily, with significant progress made in August at both the main facility and along the pipeline routes.
At the filtration facility site, crews are busy with a variety of tasks, including extensive excavation and concrete work. They are excavating soil for pipelines and preparing the foundations for subgrade buildings and overflow ponds. This foundational work is crucial for the structural integrity of the facility and prepares the site for the installation of essential infrastructure.
Significant progress has also been made on the pipelines that will connect the new facility to the existing water system. More than 1,000 feet of large-diameter pipe has been successfully installed along Dodge Park Boulevard. This work is expected to continue through October. Additionally, repaving to restore road surfaces affected by construction is scheduled to begin in mid-September.
Commuter and truck traffic to and from the sites is expected to increase as work continues to ramp up. Daily deliveries of essential materials and equipment are also ongoing to help keep the facility and pipeline construction on schedule. We appreciate the community's continued patience and cooperation as we work to complete this vital project.
To learn more about what’s happening at the construction sites, visit Portland.gov/filtrationconstruction.
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