PORTLAND, Ore. — Heavy rain has increased turbidity levels in the Bull Run watershed, prompting the Portland Water Bureau to temporarily stop using Bull Run water and rely entirely on groundwater from the Columbia South Shore Well Field.
Water bureau officials said the community’s drinking water remains safe and that no action is needed by customers. The groundwater system is meeting all state and federal drinking water standards.
Turbidity refers to organic material suspended in water, which can increase rapidly during major storm events. When turbidity rises beyond certain thresholds, the bureau shifts away from Bull Run water to ensure continued compliance with drinking water regulations.
Operations Manager Kimberly Gupta said the transition to 100 percent groundwater went smoothly, crediting long-term investments by ratepayers and the work of Water Bureau staff.
“Getting water to flow from a faucet seems simple,” Gupta said. “But it takes the hard work of engineers, construction crews, customer service staff, certified operators and more to continually deliver safe water.”
Interim Water Bureau Director Quisha Light said groundwater plays a key role in preparing for extreme weather.
“We constantly monitor water quality and plan ahead for the weather’s impact on our water supply,” Light said. “This careful planning ensures we’re ready to meet our region’s water needs now and into the future.”
The Columbia South Shore Well Field serves as Portland’s secondary drinking water source and can supplement or replace Bull Run water during storms, floods, fires or other emergencies. The well field draws high-quality water from protected aquifers deep underground.
Depending on location, it can take up to two weeks for groundwater to fully move through the distribution system and replace Bull Run water at household taps. The Water Bureau will continue operating the groundwater system as long as weather conditions and water quality require and will notify customers when the system returns to 100 percent Bull Run water.
Officials also pointed to the new Bull Run filtration facility, currently under construction, as a future safeguard against storm-related water quality issues. Once complete, the facility will be able to remove sediment, organic material and disease-causing microorganisms, allowing the bureau to continue serving Bull Run water during extreme weather events.
More information about Portland’s groundwater system is available at portland.gov/groundwater. Customers with questions can contact the Water Quality Line at 503-823-7525.
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Jon Eric Smith
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