BULL RUN CONDUIT & LUSTED ROAD PIPELINE WATER SERVICE
POLICY
Administrative Rule Adopted by Water Bureau Pursuant to Rule-Making
Authority
ARB-UTL-2.05
OBJECTIVE:
The objective of the Bull Run Conduit & Lusted Road Pipeline Water
Service Policy is to provide the property owners and public water systems in the
vicinity of the Bull Run conduits and the S. E. Lusted Road pipeline with a
description of the Bureau's requirements related to the use and addition of
potable water services to the Portland water system.
APPLICABILITY:
This policy shall apply to the area along the Bull Run conduits located
between the Bull Run Headworks and the Powell Butte Reservoir and the S. E.
Lusted pipeline located along the conduit right-of-way upstream of the Bureau's
Lusted Hill Treatment Facility located at 6704 S.E. Cottrell Road.
BACKGROUND:
The Water Bureau has been utilizing the Bull Run Watershed to supply water to
Portland since the 1890's. This required construction of conduits to convey the
water from the Bull Run to facilities in the city. In order to facilitate the
construction of the conduits, the Bureau provided water services to certain
landowners in exchange for land easements and conduit right-of-ways. The Bureau
continued to provide additional single water services along the conduit routes
until October 1974, when Bureau manager Bob Hyle developed a policy on new or
additional connection to the conduits, which required all individual water
services to dwellings existing as of October 30, 1974 and all new developments
requesting water service, form water districts per the Oregon Revised Statutes.
These policies were concurred with by then Commissioner Frank Ivancie and are
reaffirmed at this time.
In November 1980, the Bureau sent a letter to all properties receiving
service from the Bull Run conduits, prohibiting extension of water services to
properties other than the original property listed as being served by the
Bureau. The extension of services from one property to another is commonly
referred to as a "spider service" and is prohibited. Also, in memorandum dated
November 6, 1980, Paul Norseth, Bureau Chief Engineer, clarified the need for
County Boundary Commission approval for water service provision outside of
established water service boundaries.
In 1991, with the implementation of U.S.E.P.A. surface water treatment
regulations, the Bureau constructed a new water distribution pipeline in S.E.
Lusted Road. In accordance with the requirements of Clackamas County at the
time, the pipe was sized to meet the water needs of existing customers and a
small amount of additional capacity for some growth.
Over the last 30 years there have been requests for additional service from
the area around the conduits and in the vicinity of the S.E. Lusted Road
pipeline. The reasons are many for such requests, a few of which include
reductions in local water table levels resulting in wells going dry, site
conditions involving separation requirements for septic tank drain fields and
potable wells and the basic need for potable water in order to develop a
specific area.
POLICY:
1. There will be no new private service connections to the conduits between
the Bull Run Headworks and the Powell Butte Reservoir. This is necessary to meet
existing U.S.E.P.A. regulations.
2. There will be no additional individual private water service connections
to the S.E. Lusted Road pipeline. Abandoned or formerly active services that
have been deactivated or taken out of service (killed) are not eligible for
reactivation.
3. There may be additional public water system connections or additional
individual private water service connections within existing public water
systems connected to the S.E. Lusted Road pipeline or the Bull Run conduits
downstream of the Lusted Hill treatment facility based on meeting all of the
following criteria:
a. The water system is recognized as a public water system per Oregon
Administrative Rules, Chapter 333.
b. The public water system holds a valid water supply agreement with the
Bureau for the provision of water service and the public water system remains
in conformance with all applicable terms and conditions of said agreement.
c. The public water system will have system storage of a total volume
equivalent to three days average demand of the public water system.
d. The Bureau determines capacity is available in the S.E. Lusted Road
pipeline and proposed additional demand will not compromise the Bureau to
fully meet its existing obligations to existing customers or otherwise limit
the reliability of the water supply system.
e. The Bureau determines that the requested volume of water is available
for sale from the Bureau at agreed to flow rates and pressures.
f. The requested service has received all required governmental approvals,
including approval from Clackamas County.
4. There will be no new spider services (one property providing water service
by extending its service to another property). This continues an existing
policy.
5. It is the Bureau's clear intention to have any existing spider service
replaced over time with service from a public water supply whenever possible.
The cost of such replacement shall be the responsibility of the property owner
requesting a change associated with the water service.
6. With concurrence of the appropriate jurisdictional authorities, property
with an existing spider service may be modified without replacing the spider
service if the following criteria are met:
a. There is a written agreement between the Bureau and the property owner
with the following stipulations:
1). No increase in water demand will occur as a result of the
modification.
2). Assurance that the spider service will be replaced at the earliest
date possible.
3). Deposit of connection charges in an escrow account, including funds
equivalent to the current Bureau system development charges, to assure
connection to a public water supply when established in the vicinity of said
property.
HISTORY
Filed for inclusion in PPD October 20, 2004.
Document signed by Chief Engineer and Bureau Administrator October 14,
2004.
