Ask Commissioner Mingus Mapps to describe his vision for the Portland Water Bureau and he’ll tell you it starts with equity, “On the outward facing side, I want to make sure that the Water Bureau serves all Portlanders regardless of your income status. Inward facing, I want to make sure that the Water Bureau looks like the people we serve.”
Commissioner Mapps took over as Commissioner in Charge of the Water Bureau in January 2021. He’s enthusiastic about the exciting work happening at the Water Bureau—especially the new filtration facility being built. “There is no service more important than water. It literally sustains life. The water filtration facility is a key tool to get that done,” says Commissioner Mapps.
The filtration facility is vital to sustainability in Mapps’ view. He points out that much of our water infrastructure was built more than 100 years ago. The new filtration facility will adapt the system to changes in science and technology, enhancing resilience to water quality impacts from fires, landslides, and extreme weather events that may become more frequent with climate stress.
Commissioner Mapps is mindful of Portlanders’ love for Bull Run water and is committed to honoring this proud tradition and maintaining excellent water service every minute of every day as the Water Bureau plans and builds for the future. He sees projects like new filtration facility that make our water supply more reliable and resilient as a win for everyone, including the most vulnerable in our community. “We service nearly a million Oregonians every day. That is amazing! I am so proud of the people over at the Water Bureau who make sure that the water comes out clean and safe every time you turn your faucet on.”