Portland Bull Run Treatment Program
Project Description
The Bull Run Treatment Program will provide safer drinking water to nearly 1 million residents in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington Counties. The city will construct a new filtration water treatment plant to remove the microorganism Cryptosporidium and other potential contaminants from drinking water and pipelines to deliver treated water to the existing system. In addition, it will implement improved corrosion control treatment to further adjust the chemistry of the system’s water and reduce potential levels of lead in homes. The program is designed to comply with two federal regulations, the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and the Lead and Copper Rule. Together, these projects will protect public health, improve drinking water quality, and increase the system’s resiliency and reliability.
Project Benefits
- Protects drinking water by reducing lead leaching from household plumbing.
- Improves drinking water quality and removes microorganisms from source water.
- Increases system resiliency to fire, landslides, major storms, and earthquakes.
- Ensures the system meets the terms of two compliance agreements with the Oregon Health Authority.
- Saves the Portland Water Bureau an estimated $247.5 million from financing with a WIFIA loan.