Project overview
The Portland Water Bureau recently replaced reservoirs built in 1894 with a new 12.4-million-gallon, seismically reinforced underground reservoir. Since 2021, the underground reservoir has been supplying water to Portland’s west side and serving more than 360,000 people, including all downtown businesses and residents, twenty schools, five hospital complexes, and more than sixty parks. The new reservoir was engineered to withstand future seismic activity and movement from an ancient landslide on site.
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Location and background
To comply with federal and state mandates and ensure a healthy, resilient, and secure water system, the Portland Water Bureau and Oregon general contractor Hoffman Construction Company began an eight-year capital improvement project to update the Washington Park reservoir site at 2403 SW Jefferson Street.
Washington Park's previously open Reservoirs 3 (upper) and 4 (lower) occupied the site, along with two gate houses, a weir building, three pump houses, a generator house, and associated underground piping. The reservoirs were part of an ingenious gravity‐fed drinking water system constructed more than 120 years ago in the 1890's. The system was active for more than a hundred years before the current construction project began.
The Water Bureau is currently developing the former reservoir at the lower end of the site—Reservoir 4—into a lowland wildlife habitat area, bioswale, and reflecting pool. Construction to build a reflecting pool on top of the new underground reservoir, which was built within the footprint of Reservoir 3, is happening now.
The project is part of the Water Bureau's Capital Improvement Program and is funded by revenue bond proceeds paid back with the utility ratepayers' fund.
Digital resources
Washington Park Reservoir construction updates.
Look at what's happening today via our live project webcam.
Hear a neighbor's perspective on the project from Kathy Goeddel and Brooks Haxton.
Construction timeline
Construction began in June 2016 and will continue through 2025. A pause in major construction began in 2021 to allow the soil and rocks placed atop the new underground reservoir to settle. During the pause, we continued work on some smaller projects on the site. Construction resumed in the summer of 2023.
Washington Park Reservoir construction updates
2023 to 2025: Final construction phase
Construction of the reflecting pools, bioswale, walking paths, and lowland wildlife area is expected to be completed up in 2025. Throughout this final phase of construction, we'll also be restoring historical structures, including the gatehouses, light fixtures, and light poles.
Summer 2023: Construction restart
The soil settled enough to begin the construction of reflecting pools and other features. Work to build the reflecting pool, bioswale, and wildlife habitat area where Reservoir 4 used to be began in 2023, along with work to build the Grand Staircase near former Reservoir 3.
2021 to 2023: Earthworks and settlement monitoring phases
Some smaller projects continued, and we kept track of how the soil was settling.
Summer 2021: Soil placement
Soil will be placed over the reservoir and around the site in preparation for future construction of reflecting pools, walkways, and landscaping.
Spring 2021: Reservoir operational
The reservoir was tested, sanitized, filled, and put into service.
Winter 2020: Underground reservoir construction completed
The reservoir structure was completed. Crews began the process of connecting the reservoir to the rest of the water system.
Building with earthquakes in mind
The Portland Water Bureau has worked for the past several decades to increase the number of our water supply facilities that can withstand earthquakes. Even though the new reservoir will keep the historic look and feel of the original reservoir, it is being engineered with modern technology and building standards to withstand seismic activity.
The Washington Park site is on an ancient landslide that extends from the Rose Garden down the hill to the area where the reservoir sits. The Water Bureau has used innovative construction methods to address landslide and earthquake risks including:
- Heavy, 4-foot-thick concrete floors and walls, and 6 million pounds of rebar for seismic reinforcement
- 176 pilings embedded in stable bedrock to support the bottom of the reservoir
- State-of-the-art compressible material that absorbs shock from earthquakes and any landslide movement
Monitoring ground movement
In February 2022, the Water Bureau replaced some sensors in the park to help us measure ground movement of the slow-moving landslide between the Portland Japanese Gardens and Washington Park Reservoir. We installed some of these a few years back and are replacing them as part of ongoing maintenance. This work ensures that we can gather accurate information about soil movement near the reservoir as part of our seismic planning efforts.
In addition to building new walkways and a reflecting pool, we'll plant native flowers and grasses, making a better habitat for wildlife, including butterflies. When we've completed the final stage, this park will transform into a vibrant public space we all can enjoy.
Historic photos
Washington Park Reservoirs 3 and 4 were constructed between 1893 and 1894, concurrently with the distribution system from the Bull Run watershed. In 1894, heavy equipment like tower cranes, backhoes, and forklifts were practically nonexistent. Materials were delivered by wagon and pulled by horses or mules. Workers moved supplies and materials around the site using wheelbarrows and sheer strength.
