Helping shape the future of our water
We have a dedicated team of contractors—including many local contractors and union workers—who are helping to build the future of our water system.
For many, this project is more than just a job; it’s a chance to play a part in something truly special. Our contractors have a front-row seat to the creation of major new infrastructure that will deliver lasting benefits for our region. They get to see parts of our water system that will soon be hidden underground—like the piece-by-piece installation of 50-foot-long stretches of resilient water pipeline, or the carefully sequenced concrete pours to build new treatment basins.
Being involved in a project of this scale is impactful and inspiring. By contributing to forward-thinking community infrastructure, they’re helping build resilience now so our region is better prepared for the next disaster.
Council passes 2026 water revenue bonds
Portland City Council recently authorized the issuance of revenue bonds that will provide $525 million of proceeds to help pay for water system improvements, including the filtration project. When we fund a project with bonds, it spreads the cost of long-term assets over their useful life, ensuring that current ratepayers are not solely responsible for funding large projects that benefit multiple generations.
Issuing bonds is one of the ways the City is funding the filtration project and investing in our system’s long-term reliability and resilience.
Learn more about cost management and funding for this critical project.
New 2029 compliance deadline in place
In May, the City and the Oregon Health Authority signed a two-year extension to the Bilateral Compliance Agreement. This officially sets September 30, 2029, as the City’s compliance deadline to begin delivering filtered Bull Run water. The extra time accounts for delays from the land use permitting process and gives the project more flexibility to manage delays from weather, site conditions that slow construction, or issues getting materials and equipment. This added time will help us deliver this critical project without compromising construction safety or the integrity of the facility.
 Filtration construction update
This month, we celebrated Construction Safety Week with a series of safety and hazard prevention trainings at our construction sites. Workers heard from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) representatives and project leaders about the importance of a safety-first philosophy. This continued focus on safety helps protect workers and the community as the project moves forward in construction.
Current construction is about 31 percent complete for the new filtration facility and about 42 percent complete for the new pipelines. Recent construction milestones include:
- Ramped up to 300 craft workers and 17 specialty subcontractors to support facility construction.
- Poured 7,100+ cubic yards of concrete so far for facility basins, pipe encasements, and building foundations.
- Transferred 90 percent of filtration facility construction site power from generators to utility power, which is a steady power source for ongoing work.
- Started masonry construction for the main electrical building that will power the operating facility.
- Started installing new large-diameter pipes onsite to bring water from the pipeline shaft to the start of the treatment process.
- Completed the initial engineered controlled blasts for excavating the pipeline shaft in the facility’s southeast corner, reaching 187 of the required 237 feet.
- Started excavation on the second 1,245 foot pipeline tunnel needed to connect existing water conduits to the facility site.
- Installed more than 10,200 linear feet of new resilient pipelines to connect the facility to the existing water system.
- Completed significant work for the underground vault at the finished water intertie, including slab-on-grade work and walls and columns.
To learn more about what’s happening at the construction sites, visit Portland.gov/FiltrationConstruction.
|
