Portland, OR. — Heavy rainfall has caused a rapid rise in turbidity, organic material suspended in water, in the Bull Run Watershed, leading the Portland Water Bureau to temporarily stop using Bull Run surface water.
As a precaution, the bureau has shifted to supplying 100 percent groundwater from the Columbia South Shore Well Field. Officials emphasized that no action is required from the public and that Portland’s drinking water remains safe and fully compliant with federal and state regulations.
Operations Manager Kimberly Gupta said the transition went smoothly, crediting long-term investments by ratepayers and the work of Water Bureau staff.
“Getting water to flow from a faucet seems simple,” Gupta said. “But it takes the hard work of engineers, construction crews, customer service staff, certified operators and more to continually deliver safe water.”
Interim Director Quisha Light said the groundwater system plays a critical role in preparing for extreme weather.
“We constantly monitor water quality and plan ahead for the weather’s impact on our water supply,” Light said. “This careful planning ensures we’re ready to meet our region’s water needs now and into the future.”
The bureau noted that the upcoming Bull Run filtration facility will further strengthen the system by removing sediment, organic material, and disease-causing microorganisms, allowing continued use of Bull Run water during and after major storm events.
The Columbia South Shore Well Field serves as Portland’s secondary drinking water source and can be used during storms, floods, fires, or other disruptions. Depending on location, it may take up to two weeks for groundwater to fully replace Bull Run water at household taps.
The Water Bureau will continue operating the groundwater system as conditions require and will notify customers when service returns to 100 percent Bull Run water. For more information, residents can visit portland.gov/groundwater or contact the Water Quality Line at 503-823-7525.
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