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Finding leaks from space: How the Water Bureau uses space-age technology to reduce water loss

To mark World Water Loss Day, the Portland Water Bureau is celebrating the success of our satellite leak detection program! This year, we reduced our water loss by 370 million gallons (about a year's worth of water for 8,000 homes) and our carbon footprint by approximately 56 metric tons of carbon.

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Satellite with emoji eyes and lips floating in space above the earth, surrounded by water droplets and water infrastructure (such as pipes, toilets, fire hydrants, etc.) and planets..

Water-efficient home for the holidays

Get tips for cutting down on water use during the holidays!

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Snowy background with text that reads Water-Efficient Home for the Holidays.

Home improvement in your future? Does your business need a new ice machine? Don’t miss out on rebates!

Did you know that you can get money back on your sewer, stormwater, and water bill for making water-efficient upgrades? The Portland Water Bureau offers rebates on water-efficient toilets and irrigation equipment, as well as on commercial air-cooled ice machines.

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Open toilet in a nice bathroom overlaid with a icon showing two hands cupped around a $

Four ways to fall into water savings

With the changing seasons comes a change in your landscape’s watering needs. Here are some quick tips to help reduce your outdoor water use this fall.

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Two tall pale green water towers stand in a residential setting, with multiple houses and yards surrounding it. Several trees nearby have leaves changing into red and orange fall colors.

Imagine a day without water

Oct. 17 is Imagine a Day Without Water, a national day to highlight the value of water in our lives. Take a moment to consider what a day without this vital resource would be like and all the work that happens every day above and below ground to make sure you’ll always have water when you need it.

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Black and white old-timey TV with "A day without water" written in all caps on the screen

Portland is ahead of the curve in meeting new EPA regulations for lead in drinking water

The EPA released new lead in drinking water rules in October 2024, and Portland already meets key aspects. Portland has no lead pipes and our drinking water treatment significantly lowers lead levels. Here’s what Portlanders need to know about these new lead rules.

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Graphic with a photo of a bend in a copper pipe on the right, a picture of water coming out of a faucet into a glass in the middle, and a vertical blue stripe with wavy lines on the right. A light brown icon with the white outline of a pipe overlays the middle picture and the blue stripe.

Portland Water Bureau crews quickly repair large main break, restore water service

Water bureaus crews successfully repaired a major water main break on Saturday, October 5th in Northwest Portland. Water service has been restored to all affected customers.

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Water bureau crews respond to a broken water main at night.

Come drink me, H2O: New hit single from Drippy the Water Drop makes a splash!

You may have heard Sabrina Carpenter’s catchy song “Espresso,” but H2O’s a better beverage—and it finally has a theme song to match. The artist, Drippy the Water Drop, shares the meaning behind the song and why you should drink Portland water, not espresso.

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5 people wearing summer attire lay on beach chairs around a water drop costume

Get smart about irrigation this summer using these four tips

July is Smart Irrigation Month. Celebrate by using smart, water-efficient technologies that help save money and reduce water waste. Here are four ways to get started!

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Graphic reading July - Smart Irrigation Month - regionalh20.org with illustration of a water droplet and a green leaf.

How to keep your plants hydrated in the heat

Everyone needs to stay hydrated during heat waves--including plants! Follow these eight tips to keep your plants happy when its hot while using water wisely.

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Close up of a leafy plant. One leaf in the middle is wilting and has a pale greenish yellow color.

Four ways to keep your yard healthy and save water this summer

With summer officially upon us, it’s time to embrace the longer days and warmer weather here in Portland! As we prepare for summer barbecues and all things patio season, here are some tips to help you save water outdoors.

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Water Droplets: Just one broken or missing component in your irrigation system could be wasting 1,000 gallons of water per week! Picture of sprinkling spraying.

Investing in our future

This year, after finishing design and getting critical permits, the Water Bureau took the next big step and began construction of the Bull Run Filtration Projects.

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Unusually high bill? You might have a leak.

Leaks are a leading cause of unexpectedly high water bills. If you find a leak, you can request an adjustment (or credit) to your sewer, stormwater, and water bill so you don’t have to pay for the increased water use.

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Graphic showing responsibility of water pipes. Repairing broken pipes on the customer’s side of the meter is the property owner’s responsibility.

Three tips for “March Madness” season

Your water meter deserves some TLC this March Madness season. Here are three tips everyone should follow as you tend to your yard this spring.

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A water meter box sits hidden by grass and dead leaves

Out of this world! Using space to find water leaks in Portland

What do Mars, water leaks, and Portland have in common? This Fix a Leak Week, learn how we're using satellites to find leaks and save money and water.

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Satellite with emoji eyes and lips floating in space above the earth, surrounded by water droplets and water infrastructure (such as pipes, toilets, fire hydrants, etc.) and planets..

How to catch a running toilet

Toilet leaks are the most common household leaks. There’s no better time than Fix a Leak Week (March 18-24) to track down household leaks that waste more than ONE TRILLION gallons of water nationwide each year.

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Woman with crazed facial expression enthusiastically points at a toilet with blue water in the bowl.

Don't flush your money down the toilet

Leaks can waste a lot of water and money. There’s no better time than Fix-a-Leak Week (March 18-24) to track down household leaks that waste more than ONE TRILLION gallons of water nationwide each year.

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Text reading Let's find and fix leaks at home. Above and below the text are illustrations of different rooms in a house with water droplets over appliances that may have leaks

Winter weather response…all year round

Portland Water Bureau staff worked around the clock during the recent extreme winter weather event to keep water flowing and provide emergency service to customers with burst pipes. But the work doesn’t start or end there—we prepare for extreme weather and other emergencies all day, all year round.

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A water bureau truck plows snow from a heavily covered road in the bull run watershed.

How to avoid utility scams this holiday season

Learn how to spot and avoid potential scams.

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Illustration of a person sitting at a desk with a computer on it. The person has one hand on their head and the other reaching out towards the computer screen. A hand reaches out from the computer screen and grabs a credit card from the person's outreached hand. There is a caution symbol above the computer screen.

Four tips for fall water savings

As the seasons change, so do the water needs of your landscape. Here are a few tips to keep your landscape resilient and water efficient this season.

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Two tall pale green water towers stand in a residential setting, with multiple houses and yards surrounding it. Several trees nearby have leaves changing into red and orange fall colors.

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