Bull Run Treatment Projects Videos

Ask most Portlanders and they’ll tell you how much they love our delicious water and how grateful they are for the City’s commitment to ensuring it stays safe and clean for the future. But don’t just take our word for it: Hear from our water champions why Portlanders have a special connection to Bull Run water.

The City of Portland is ensuring social equity on every project through contracting goals that encourage workforce diversity and create opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses. Learn more about the bureau's commitment to equity.

The new filtration facility will remove Cryptosporidium and other potential contaminants from the Bull Run water supply, producing cleaner, safer water.

Flyover of the Bull Run Filtration facility in design. 

The upcoming Bull Run Filtration facility will provide many benefits for people today and future generations. Water Quality Engineer Anna Vosa breaks down how filtration reduces potentially-cancer-causing disinfection byproducts (DBPs for short). While Portland’s unfiltered water is below regulatory limits, filtration will reduce DBP levels even lower, making our water safer to drink. 
 

Whether it’s a wildfire, a drought or severe flooding, climate change impacts how we deliver water now and in the future. We’re always looking for ways to prepared and build a more resilient water system. 

Prior to the Camp Creek Fire in the Bull Run Watershed, Water Quality Engineer Mac Gifford shared how he and his team were studying ways to best treat drinking water after a forest fire. Our scientists mixed ash collected from regional forest fires into batches of Bull Run water, our primary water source, before running those batches through a filtration process. Ash from the Camp Creek fire is now being added to the study too. This pilot study will help us better understand how to operate our upcoming filtration facility. 

Scheduled to be fully operational in 2027, the filtration facility will remove organic materials like dirt and ash from our water. Learn more about how we’re keeping our water safe for generations to come with filtration at bit.ly/3r45

Drippy is a drop of little words. But for #EmergencyPreparednessMonth they put on their reporter cap to ask Water Quality Engineer Mac Gifford how the Bull Run Filtration Project will prepare us for natural disasters/emergencies. Expected to be completed in 2027, the Bull Run filtration facility will allow us to serve Bull Run water after a large storm, landslide or wildfire.

Highlights from the March 4, 2021 Bull Run Treatment Projects WIFIA Loan Award Recognition event, featuring Gov. Kate Brown, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, EPA’s Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox, Mayor Wheeler, Commissioner Mingus Mapps, former Commissioner Amanda Fritz and our own Director Gabriel Solmer. Learn more about WIFIA Award Event Highlights, and check out the full March 4, 2021 Bull Run Treatment Projects WIFIA Loan Award Recognition Event.

In November 2019, we toured the City of Wilsonville’s Willamette River Water Treatment Facility with the community and Bull Run Filtration Site Advisory Group members. Attendees checked out equipment and processes at work at a drinking water filtration facility.

In February 2020, we toured the Joint Water Commission Water Treatment Facility with the community and Bull Run Filtration Site Advisory Group members. Attendees checked out equipment and processes at work at a drinking water filtration facility.

The Improved Corrosion Control Treatment Project (ICCT) is now in operation to help make water from the Bull Run watershed less corrosive to lead and other metals found in some home and building plumbing. The upgraded treatment is our strongest tool yet to reduce the risk of lead at the tap. The treatment changes will be phased in over several months and we will continue monitoring water quality though the system as we make the changes. Learn more about how the ICCT project came together.

Portland Water Bureau constructed improved treatment facilities to make the Bull Run drinking water source less corrosive to lead and other metals found in home and building plumbing. The completed project includes a building for the new corrosion control treatment system, a water utility water pump station, and associated piping and support systems.

Delivery and installation of the two silos for the Improved Corrosion Control Treatment facility was a momentous feat for both man and machine. Now fully operational, the silos house treatment to adjust our water chemistry to make it less corrosive to lead and other metals that can be found in some home and building plumbing.

The first of two 50’ tall silos was delivered May 13, 2021 for the Improved Corrosion Control Treatment Project. These silos are necessary for treatment that adjusts the chemistry of our water to make it less corrosive to lead and other metals that can be found in some home and building plumbing. The silo arrived fully assembled on large specialized truck and trailer rigs, and placed on a concrete foundation using a crane.

CO₂ was delivered to our Improved Corrosion Control Treatment Project. Now fully operational, this proven safe treatment adjusts our water chemistry to make it less corrosive to lead and other metals that can be found in some home and building plumbing.

During Improved Corrosion Control Treatment construction, Construction Manager Jon Johnson and the project team used a mix of engineering, problem-solving, and ingenuity to minimize disruptions for those near the Lusted Hill facility site. Learn more about Jon.

As construction of the Improved Corrosion Control Treatment neared completion, the team turned to testing and startup to bring the new system online. Kimberly Gupta, Water Supply and Treatment Manager, describes how adjusting the chemistry of our water can help reduce levels of lead at customers' taps. Learn more about Kim.

A look at how the Portland Water Bureau's Improved Corrosion Control Treatment Project improves water quality for customers across the Rose City.

Environmental Specialist Tom Krause shows how the Portland Water Bureau replicates the conditions of its high-risk homes so it can test for lead-in-water every month. This testing method helps us determine how corrosive our water is and will inform operations at the Improved Corrosion Control Treatment Project.

Commissioner Amanda Fritz was a former registered nurse prior to being elected to City Council and provides a unique perspective to her role overseeing the Water Bureau. “Water is the most basic need of life," says Commissioner Fritz "We need to make sure there is safe and plentiful water for generations to come.” Learn more about Commissioner Fritz.

As the Multnomah County Health Officer and lead health officer for the Tri-County region, Dr. Jennifer Vines provides leadership on a range of public health issues. “Figuring out a system for clean, safe water 150 years ago was a huge public health win,” says Dr. Vines. “We can take clean water for granted in Portland, thanks to our highly protected Bull Run water source and water treatment.” Learn more about Dr. Vines.

Both professionally and at home, Dr. McKenzie and Dr. Patel know how important it is to have clean water coming out of the tap. From the routine care of their patients to making sure their two kids are washing their hands, they understand having infrastructure that ensures we have safe and healthy water is key for public health. For their patients, their family, and the community.

At the Portland Water Bureau our Water Quality team works diligently to ensure we deliver drinking water to your tap that meets or surpasses all federal and state drinking water standards. Water Quality Manager, Yone Akagi knows the importance of having safe and healthy drinking water. “The filtration project is going to have a lot of great public health benefits" says Akagi. Learn more about Yone.

As the nurse manager of the Hemodialysis Unit at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Hospital, Darcey Ayala sees how important clean, safe water is for the treatment and overall health of her patients each and every day. Learn more about Darcey.

Water is essential to the diverse industries and businesses powering our local economy. Hear how Fernando Rodriquez relies on clean, safe water for everything from hand washing and kitchen sanitation to cooking up his unique twist on the delicious flavors of Mexico. Learn more about Fernando.

The improvements we’re making through the Bull Run Treatment Projects will ensure our water quality is more consistent, which is essential for our local craft brewers to keep churning out new and exciting beer. “Water is used for almost every single process for the brewing industry,” says local brewer Maddy McCarthy with Von Ebert Brewing. Consistent water is key to continuing to brew the ones customers love the most. Learn more about Von Ebert Brewing and Wayfinder Beer.

Keeping water affordable while making key investments in our water system is a top priority at the Portland Water Bureau—and something our whole team takes to heart. Learn more about Cecelia.

Potable water is important to daily living standards and supporting the local economy. Investing in our infrastructure and water system ensures Portlanders will have a reliable, high-quality water source for years to come. Learn more about Emerio.

Deadstock Coffee brings together three things that Portland is known for: community, sneakers, and delicious coffee. It’s a unique concept with an often-unsung ingredient in helping build its success: Bull Run water.  Learn more about Ian and Deadstock Coffee.

Native American-owned McDonald Excavating has been instrumental in performing the complex and technically challenging excavation and pipework required to build the Improved Corrosion Control Treatment facility. Learn more about Mike. 

Building water infrastructure like the Bull Run Treatment Projects enables skilled tradeswomen to establish rewarding careers and contribute to improving the quality of life in our community. Learn more about Kelly.

For Humberto Piedra-Ruiz, his work as a civil engineer for the Bull Run Treatment Projects is more than a job. It’s an opportunity to ensure access to clean, reliable water for his daughter and our whole community for generations to come. Learn more about Humberto.

Knowing Portland is investing in safe, clean water gives Tattoo 34 owner and busy mom, Nisha Supahan, confidence in the future for her business, children, and community. Learn more about Nisha.

Commissioner Mingus Mapps describes his vision for the Portland Water Bureau and how projects like the new filtration facility that make our water supply more reliable and resilient are a win for everyone, including the most vulnerable in our community. Learn more about Commissioner Mapps.

National Preparedness Month spotlights what firefighters like Lisa Knight see every day—being prepared saves lives. Making our water system more resilient with the Bull Run Treatment Projects is one of the ways the Water Bureau is looking ahead to prepare and protect our community. Learn more about Lisa.