Clean, safe water is essential to a thriving business and family

Blog Post
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.
Published
Nisha Supahan, owner of Tattoo 34 on SE Hawthorne, appreciates that the Water Bureau is planning for the future with the Bull Run Treatment Projects.

What do toddlers, teens, and tattoos have in common? They all depend on safe, clean water to thrive. Just ask Nisha Supahan. Along with her husband, she’s the owner of Tattoo 34, the only Indigenous- and Black-owned tattoo shop in Portland. She’s also a busy mom with eight kids to care for at home.  

At the tattoo shop on SE Hawthorne Street, water is essential for handwashing and keeping the shop clean and sanitary. And at home, with kids ranging from toddlers to teens, water is the go-to to help keep everyone hydrated and healthy. “We drink water. Our kids mostly drink water. It is kind of a staple. Worrying about what is in it, or what is not in it, that’s huge for me.” 

She’s glad that Portland is planning for the future and protecting her community’s water. Projects like the Improved Corrosion Control Treatment project, which will make water less corrosive to lead found in some home and building plumbing, give Nisha confidence. “To have the community doing something like making sure lead isn’t involved [in drinking water] is super important.” 

Water has always held deep significance for Nisha. As part of the Karuk Tribe, she grew up on the Klamath River in California where water was central to life. She believes we need to protect our water and appreciates the steps being taken by the Water Bureau. “I’m glad to hear that there are things in place that they’re thinking about the future. As the world is feeling like it is crumbling a little bit, having that knowledge of what we’re going to do moving forward in this different world is important.”