Commissioner Randy Leonard writes
"As you may know, I have been widely regarded as the "big fish" in City Hall over the past 4 years, and while my reign has been enjoyable, we all know that a man can't do a fish's work. As a result, the Portland Water Bureau is installing an actual "big fish" sculpture right outside my office in City Hall.
The salmon sculpture is called "Swimming Through" by artist Jill Toberson. The Portland Water Bureau is sponsoring this installation through the Western Rivers Conservancy’s Salmon for the Sandy project. This project is a fundraiser for the Sandy River Basin Watershed Council and highlights the removal of the Marmot and Little Sandy dams in the Sandy basin.
The sculpture is a symbol of the important work that the Portland Water Bureau is doing to address the impacts on the flow, temperature and habitat conditions in the Bull Run River caused by the operation of the water supply system. The system, which includes two dams and reservoirs, changes the conditions in the river that salmon and steelhead fish species require to reproduce. These species are currently listed under the federal Endangered Species Act and the city has a legal obligation to comply with this federal regulation.
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Tricia Knoll, Public Information Officer, Portland writes
"Throughout April and May, Portland Water Bureau operations staff give the five open finished drinking water reservoirs in the water system a spring cleaning. There are two reservoirs at Washington Park and three at Mt. Tabor Park. Today the Portland Water Bureau begins cleaning Reservoir 1 at the top of Mt. Tabor Park.
“We clean the reservoirs twice a year,” says Administrator David Shaff. “First we partially drain them down by letting water flow to serve customers. We drain what remains to the sewer system in cooperation with the Bureau of Environmental Services. On dry days we begin pressure washing all exposed services. Weather affects our planning. We can’t add additional water to the storm system that might cause a sewer overflow. This routine spring cleaning ensures clean, cold water from forest to faucet. If you see us out with large hoses in the reservoirs, that is what our crews are doing.”
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Tricia Knoll, Public Information, Portland Water B writes
"Water is, of course, the main ingredient, but the Water Blog at http://www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?c=39 678&a=147524&nocache=1 gives tips on how to keep cut flowers looking fresh for days to come. A staff member who is also a master gardener wrote the tips on what may work -- in addition to cold, fresh clean water."
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Tricia Knoll, Public Information, Portland Water Bureau writes
"We've weathered the worst of the storm and temperatures are returning to normal. Today the Portland Water Bureau will turn on the 130 drinking fountains throughout the city.
For more information on daily water news, tune in to the Water Blog at www.portlandonline.com/water/blog ."
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Tricia Knoll, Public Information Officer, Portland Water Bureau writes
"The weather predictions are for sustained cold in the teens. That poses the threat of freezing pipes for some households. The Portland Water Bureau's website at www.portlandonline.com/water has front page links to tips for winterizing pipes and preventing freezing. It also has links to emergency contact information. Please review the information. The Portland Water Bureau frequently responds to many, many calls from homeowners asking for help shutting off water after pipes freeze and break. Our web-posted tips can help you prevent these problems.
Watch the Water Blog at www.portlandonline.com/water/blog for daily updates on weather-related response. We have turned off the Benson Bubblers downtown to prevent blowing water from icing up city sidewalks. We will make other operational changes as needed.
Stay warm. Stay safe. Protect your pipes from freezing."
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CWSP writes
"Environmental Services works with Portland State University, AmeriCorps, local watershed councils and the community to raise awareness of and to improve watershed health.
Our Community Watershed Stewardship Program offers grants that provide up to $5,000 to schools, churches, and other community organizations for projects that protect and enhance watershed health at the local level. Grants cannont go to individuals. However, if you have neighborhood and community support for your idea, we can help you find a partner organization that can act as your financial agent. Grant money can be used for supplies, materials, equipment, room rentals, feasibility studies or technical assistance.
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Tricia Knoll, Public Information, Portland Water Bureau writes
"It's official. The Portland Water and Sewer Utilities Customer Services group is once again at the Water Bureau. The website for the group has moved to www.portlandonline.com/water -- any information that customers have bookmarked in the past retains the same URLs. Customer Services' information is available at a tab at the top of the website -- and includes new content about requesting leak adjustments and appealing utility charges.
Portland Water and Sewer Utilities Customer Services at the Water Bureau looks forward to answering questions, providing payment arrangements, and facilitating financial assistance for eligible households."
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Commissioner Randy Leonard writes
"This month City Council approved the transfer of Portland Water and Sewer Utilities Customer Services back to the Water Bureau. The first Water Bureau customer service facility was in the first floor of City Hall – so that women with baby carriages in 1895 could access the desks to pay their water bills. In 1938 the Water Bureau took responsibility for collecting fees for sewer services in addition to water charges. That’s a fairly long history of customer service.
People have asked me why I worked with Mayor Tom Potter to bring water and sewer customer services back to the Water Bureau after it had been at the Revenue Bureau for over a year.
It may come down to a simple answer: I like people. I listen to people who call my office. I want to help them work through issues with bureaucracies. I want to engage them in the discussion of city issues. I also respect city employees and want to empower them to provide the best customer service in the world. The logic may be this: the people providing the best drinking water in the world have the potential to provide the best customer service.
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Tricia Knoll, Public Information, Portland Water Bureau writes
"Starting December 11 through January 5, 2007, the Portland Water Bureau will install new water supply mains under SW Broadway, from SW Harrison St. to SW Jackson St. The work is being permitted during the City’s holiday construction moratorium to accommodate Portland State University, which will be closed.
The water project is upgrading key sections of 60 - to 100 - year old pipes; replacing them with larger, more durable 36-inch diameter mains. The work is complex and important to the City’s drinking water system.
During construction there will be temporary impacts to the public, including noise. The work may shut down two or three traffic lanes in one or two block sections. Some street parking will also be restricted. The sidewalks will remain open.
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David G. Shaff, Administrator of the Portland Water Bureau writes
"In early November, the North Fork Snotel gage and the Log Creek RAWS weather station in the Bull Run Watershed recorded 28 to 34 inches of precipitation over a six-day period and 9 to 12 inches during a 24-hour period, respectively. On November 7, peak stream flow in the upper Bull Run River, upstream of Reservoir1, was the second highest ever recorded in 40 years of documentation. A storm of this magnitude increases turbidity (a measurement of water clarity) above the regulatory levels that require shutting down the Bull Run and activating the Columbia South Shore Well Field.
While 16 percent of the Bull Run drainage was clearcut logged between 1958 and 1993 when the Forest Service conducted a timber management program on federal land in the Bull Run , the watershed is still arguably among the most protected, resilient, and ecologically healthy water-supply watersheds in the U.S. Post-storm inspections in the Bull Run revealed no signs of erosion from roads or previously logged areas. The Water Bureau maintains long-term access roads well. The U. S. Forest Service has decommissioned two thirds of former logging roads in the watershed that pose a risk of erosion during storms. The Forest Service recently completed environmental documentation necessary to authorize removing the remainder of these roads. The City continues to work to ensure that Congress funds this work.
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Tricia Knoll, Public Information, Water Bureau writes
"Geyser up!
On Saturday, November 18 at 11 am Commissioner Randy Leonard will give the signal to restore the flow of water to a fountain in the center of the north pool on Mt. Tabor Parks’ Reservoir 6. (Reservoir 6 is the rectangular open drinking water reservoir along SE 60th just north of Division.)
The event will be on the east side of the reservoir – with an opportunity for spectators to climb up to Reservoir 5 to admire the fountain in the context of the city vista from this upper reservoir.
Portland Water Bureau Administrator David G. Shaff acknowledges, “Neighbors of the park have asked for this fountain to be operational again since the Water Bureau turned it off nearly a decade ago. The fountain will spout 50 feet into the air – an attractive and visible feature for the park. The good news is that we don’t have to pump the water for it to geyser up – the natural gravity feed of water from the uphill Reservoir 5 provides the pressure to drive the fountain. We recently cleaned and chlorinated the north pool of the reservoir. We restored the fountain equipment this summer. We expect this to be quite a show.”
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City of Portland writes "Portland, Oregon - City of Portland drinking water customers may be noticing a slight color change in the drinking water this time of year. The change in color is typical for the Bull Run drinking water system in the fall.
"Every year the Water Bureau gets a few calls about the fall color of Portland's drinking water," says Administrator David G. Shaff. "However, the color only affects the appearance of the water, not the good taste or water quality. This is the best drinking water in the world--and the color is a result of Portland's water coming from "forest to faucet."
The pale tint results from the first flush of organic material from vegetation that has been washed from the forest floor and stream channels into the reservoirs in the Bull Run watershed. Each summer the reservoirs levels diminish as the metropolitan area uses drinking water from this stored supply in the Mt. Hood National Forest. In the fall, rains return and begin to refill the reservoirs. The Water Bureau anticipates that these rains will in turn flush the slightly tinted water from the reservoirs.
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Columbia Slough Watershed Council writes
"On Saturday September 23rd, 2006, area residents, families, and whole bunch of pirates, will join the Portland Water Bureau and the Columbia Slough Watershed Council for a fun day of canoe rides, treasure hunting, music by Sky in the Road and games. These treasure hunters will search the woods and trails along the Columbia Slough for clues that will lead them to “hidden” treasure! The treasure they seek will not be gold or silver but a vital resource that flows under their feet.
This fourth-annual event focuses on groundwater, water conservation, and groundwater protection actions that you can do at home. Fun games and activities teach kids and adults how to protect this important groundwater resource that serves as a supplemental and emergency drinking water supply to 700,000 people in the Portland Metropolitan area.
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Commissioner Randy Leonard writes
"At most offices, this is the month when folks are on vacation – or if they’re not on vacation, they are wishing they were.
It’s a bit different at the Water Bureau. Hot weather brings high demand for water…residential water use can double. For the people at the Water Bureau that means work that may not be apparent when you turn on your tap for another glass of cold, fresh water.
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Tricia Knoll, Portland Water Bureau writes
"The forecasts are for hot. Drink plenty of fluids. Think about your lawns and gardens. Give them the water they need -- but use water wisely. The Water Bureau's website at http://www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?c=29 334 has tips that can help. Water early in the morning or late at night. Adjust your sprinklers so you're not watering pavement. Look at the Water Bureau's "evapotranspiration" (ET) data to consider how much to water. Look at the Water Bureau's "Water to the Weather" brochure posted online at http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm ?id=117524 ."
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