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Building career pathways for apprentices
The Bull Run Filtration Project is building more than critical water infrastructure—it’s also building our local workforce through apprentice opportunities. We’re providing pathways for apprentices to learn skilled trades, earn while they train, and build long-term careers while being part of a major public works investment.
By supporting apprenticeship goals and workforce equity commitments, the project is expanding access to family-wage jobs, strengthening the regional construction workforce, and creating lasting benefits for the community.
 Filtration construction update
Our contractors are working on nearly every aspect of the filtration facility—from placing concrete for the filtration and sedimentation basins to putting up steel for the administration and chemical buildings. The 95-acre site is buzzing with activity and each week more of the new water infrastructure takes shape.
In the past month, significant progress has been made on key structures that will support the operations and maintenance of the new water filtration facility. Crews are installing steel framing for the facility administration and chemical storage buildings.
The administration building is where water treatment operators will oversee the day-to-day water treatment process. The building is designed to be near net zero energy use by using solar panels and other energy-saving features to help offset energy demands. The nearby staff parking lot will also be outfitted with electric vehicle charging stations. |
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This month, crews also completed another section of the new seismically resilient pipes that run from the intertie facility—which will connect the new pipes to the existing system—to the intersection of SE Lusted Road and SE Altman Road. These new 60-inch-diameter and 42-inch-diameter pipes will help carry treated water from the filtration facility to the existing water system. With the new pipes now in the ground, crews were able to repair and reopen the roadway to traffic.
Other recent pipeline construction milestones include:
- 237-foot pipeline shaft is about 88 percent excavated
- 1,245-foot north tunnel is about 46 percent excavated
- 1,245-foot south tunnel is about 14 percent excavated
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Bull Run Filtration: Portland Utility Board update meeting (July 2026)
At the July 16 meeting, Portland Utility Board (PUB) members heard an update from Chief Engineer Muriel Gueissaz-Teufel on the project status. PUB also heard an update from representatives of the Project Delivery Advisory Team on construction milestone communications.
Visit the July 16 PUB meeting webpage to see the meeting presentation and recording.
The Water Bureau is providing PUB with monthly updates on project delivery. PUB meetings are hosted online and the recordings are posted to the website.
Learn more: Portland Utility Board events
Bull Run Filtration: neighbor update meeting (July 2026)
At the July 9 meeting, community members heard an update on pipeline and facility construction for the Bull Run Filtration Projects. Topics included traffic restrictions in the project area and construction methods for the pipeline tunnel excavation.
Visit the July 2026 Neighbor Update meeting webpage to see the meeting presentation and recording.
Bull Run Filtration: coffee with the contractor
The Water Bureau will host an informal drop-in session where project neighbors can chat with representatives of the facility and pipeline construction teams, ask questions, and hear about recent progress and upcoming work. There is no presentation, so stop in anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (drop in)
Where: Multnomah County Grange #71, 30639 SE Bluff Road, Gresham
Can't make it this time? Join us for the next in-person Coffee with the Contractor on September 10.
Get in touch
Learn more about the Filtration Project
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About the Bull Run Treatment Program
To comply with federal Safe Drinking Water Act regulations, the Portland Water Bureau is building a water filtration facility and related pipelines, and recently completed an improved corrosion control treatment facility. The Bull Run Treatment Projects will provide consistent, high-quality drinking water that meets today’s water quality standards, helps address aging infrastructure concerns and future risks and regulations, and improves system resilience to help keep our water safe and abundant for generations to come.
Learn more at portland.gov/BullRunProjects
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Know someone who would be interested in updates about the Bull Run Treatment Projects?
Please share the news!
The City of Portland is committed to providing meaningful access. To request translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, or other auxiliary aids or services, contact 503-823-7432, Relay: 711.
Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या
口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad
Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me Awewen Kapas
Translation and Interpretation: 503-823-7432, Relay: 711
This email was sent from an unmonitored inbox. Please do not reply. Instead, contact us at bullrunprojects@portlandoregon.gov.
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