The Water Bureau reconfigured its Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2) Web site and is now posting monthly results of the intensive year-long water quality sampling program.

 

The results from 12 months of sampling will be used to demonstrate whether treatment for Cryptosporidium is necessary to protect public health due to the nature of the source water of the Bull Run watershed.

 

The bureau began collecting and testing water within the City’s Bull Run watershed in accordance with the Sampling Plan and Study in Support of a Variance Application to the treatment requirements of LT2 in December 2009. The plan was submitted to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last November.

 

Validated data results from the source water intake sampling and the potential "hot spot" sampling are now available on the Web site. Results will be updated monthly. Validated results are available approximately 30 days after the samples are collected.

 

For general information about LT2 visit www.portlandonline.com/water/lt2

 

To view the sampling plan and study and the data collected to date, visit www.portlandonline.com/water/lt2_treatment_variance

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Terry Black

503-823-1168

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Susan Kelly

Public Outreach

Work: 503-823-6020

Cell: 503-823-8891

 

Construction crews from the Portland Water Bureau (PWB) will begin work to relocate a section of water main at the intersection of SW 45th Avenue and SW Multnomah Boulevard on Tuesday, February 9th and Wednesday, February 10th.

 

The work will take place between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm on both days.  One lane of traffic will be closed during construction hours. All traffic lanes will be reopened when no work is underway.

 

The traffic signal light will be shut-off. Flaggers will direct traffic through the intersection, but some delay will occur.  Motorists and bicyclists are encouraged to find alternate routes.

 

PWB crews will return to work in the intersection for seven more days, starting on Tuesday, February 16 through Wednesday, February 24.  This water project is in connection with the Bureau of Environmental Services' Fanno Creek Pressure Sewer Project.

 

The Water Bureau is investing in energy-efficiency improvements and getting paid for it!

 

Recently, bureau electricians replaced 12 inefficient fixtures on the Interstate Facility loading dock and the covered parking area with high-efficiency fixtures. The switch will result in 8,198 kilowatt hours of energy savings annually, reducing energy use of the lights by 35 percent!

 

The bureau received an incentive from the Energy Trust of Oregon for $0.111 per kilowatt-hour saved through the upgrade, a total of $910. The cost of the project before the incentive was $2,568 and so, after the incentive, the estimated payback of the project is only 3.4 years!

 

The replaced fixtures were 25 years old and required frequent maintenance. Replacing the old lamps with new, efficient lamps has a long list of benefits:

• saves energy
• costs less to operate
• costs less to maintain
• gives off better light
• has a longer lifespan which reduces replacement costs

Encouraged by the success of this retrofit project, bureau electricians plan to upgrade the Mt. Tabor and Washington Park Reservoir lighting, replace exterior and gallery lights at the groundwater well field and the interior lights at the treatment building, and change out shop lights at Sandy River Station. All of these projects are expected to receive Energy Trust incentive payments.

 

All bureau ballasts and lamps are sent back to North Coast Electric. Bulbs are then sent to Arizona for recycling. Since over 70% of the city’s electricity is generated using fossil fuels, saving electricity also reduces emissions of planet-warming CO2 into the atmosphere.

 

The innovation and commitment of bureau electricians is paying off, literally! Thanks to their efforts, the Interstate loading dock/parking garage project will save $500 and avoid release of 3 tons of CO2 annually.

 

Kim Dinan

Sustainability Coordinator

Imagine waking up tomorrow morning, sliding into your slippers, and discovering a world where you no longer have access to a safe water source or reliable sanitation. Right there, it’s going to be a bad day for me. Yet, lack of cleaning drinking water and sanitation is a challenge that many of our global neighbors face on a daily basis. 

 

Now imagine a world where the cycle of water poverty is broken and we all have access to clean water and sanitation. Water for People (WFP) is working to build that world where all people have access to safe drinking water and sanitation and no one suffers or dies from a water or sanitation related disease.

 

Tomorrow night, February 6th is the 4th annual Water for People fundraising gala presented by the Portland chapter of WFP.

 

The evening includes:

• A 6pm Cocktail Hour
• Dinner
• Music by Chata Addy band
• Storytelling by Baba Wague

Tickets are $50 and available at the door.

 

The location is the Scottish Rite Center at 1512 SW Morrison, Portland.

 

All proceeds support the work of WFP. More information is available by emailing Carla Ralston.

 

In 2009 WFP served 327,391 water and sanitation beneficiaries, an increase of 77% over 2008! Projects are active in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

 

Water For People strives to provide sustainable water and sanitation systems by empowering the local community with know-how and resources to maintain and replace the systems without external resources. While disaster aid will always be needed in the world, development work on the WFP model creates resilient communities that can recover more quickly from a disaster.

 

WFP is the charity of choice for the American Water Works Association, the professional association of the water industry.

 

Carla Ralston

6:00 PM

All lanes of SE Division are now open. Thank you for your patience.

 

4:50 PM

 

I just spoke with afternoon crew supervisor, Dennis Hughes.

Dennis informed me that crews have replaced the broken portion of the main. Once the main is secured in place, crews will begin back-filling the hole.

 

Sweeper trucks will come out to clean up the site tomorrow morning.

 

The hole will receive a temporary pavement patch until the site can be paved over next week.

 

Crews hope to have all traffic lanes up and running by early evening.

 

 

1:00 PM

 

Main break repair work has officially commenced. Crews predict that they'll have to keep the two lanes of traffic on SE Division between 105th and 112th closed through early evening, when repairs can be completed.

Crews will also repave the street.

 

 

10:50 AM

 

I've been back on site this morning for about an hour watching as the crews make progress towards repair. Crews have unearthed a portion of the affected main, revealing an impressive split that is estimated to be 6-8 feet long.

 

They need to remove a bit more dirt from the hole before they can begin repairs. They will replace the broken portion of the main; they will not patch it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7:35 AM

 

Supervisor Doug Quan reports that this main break is a big one. Crews have not been able to open all traffic lanes as hoped. Two lanes of SE Division between 105th and 112th still closed but he reports that traffic is flowing smoothly at this point. Crews continue to dig but have not determined how far down the break is at this point.

 

Several commercial businesses along SE Division between 107th and 112th are without water this morning. No residents are without water.

 

A crew is about to come in and relieve emergency crew who has been working since 12:00 am.

 

Questions? Try Twitter. Use #SEMainBreak and send to @portlandwater.

 

Jennie

 

2:20 AM

 

The main is throttled down (shut off). All locates have been called in and crews are beginning repair work. Repairs will likely last all night and into the morning.

 

At this time no one is without water.

 

Two lanes of traffic are currently open and crews hope to have the entire street re-opened by morning rush hour, with only SE 109th remaining closed.

 

 

1:40 AM

 

Here's what lifted pavement looks like:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1:33 AM

 

PWB Security has reopened two lanes of traffic on SE Division between 105th & 112th. Two lanes remain closed as PWB crews begin repair work.

 

2-4-2010

1:23 AM

 

I am on-site as crews begin to perform repairs on the main break at SE 109th & Division. Here is the new information I have as of now:

• A hit and run driver hit a hydrant at SE 112th & Division earlier this evening ...it is a confirmed hit and run at this point.
• SE Division is currently shut down in all directions between SE 105th & SE 112th. PWB Security hopes to be able to open at least two lanes of traffic before morning rush hour.
• Crews are struggling to throttle down the main as there is a significant amount of water making it hard to find the source of the break.
• Both Portland Police and Portland Fire and Rescue have been extremely instrumental in helping this evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12:15 PM

 

I am headed out to see, first hand, what is going on. I plan to post pictures from the site if I am able. Stay tuned.

 

11:45 PM

 

I just spoke with the supervisor on this main break. He reports that when the hydrant at SE 112th was hit, it caused what is called a "water hammer" or a shock to the system, that resonated throughout the infrastructure. The hit occured at a the juncture of a cluster of infrastructure joints, causing possibly severe damage throughout the area (to the infrastructure). He reports that raised pavement in the area leading him to believe that the break is significant.

 

Portland Fire and Rescue is on site attempting to mitigate potential flooding to nearby homes.

 

10:55 PM

 

I have confirmation that we have a main break in SE Portland this evening. Evidently, a large truck hit a hydrant at SE 112th & Division, causing the rupture. The break is on an 8 inch main at the point where it transitions to a 12 inch main.

 

Customers in the general, affected area might experience dirty water at their taps this evening. They are advised to let their water run until it clears out. At that point it is safe to drink. A rupture to a major main can stir up sediment in the water causing the dirty appearance. Letting it run until clear allows any sediment to clear out.

 

An emergency crew is being assembled as I write, with one crew member already on site, attempting to throttle the main down, or shut it off. Once the crew is out there and the main has been shut off, the crew will begin draining water. Once water is drained, all underground utilities will need to be located before the crew can begin to dig for repairs.

 

Stay tuned to the Water Blog, Facebook and Twitter for more updates the this progresses.

 

Jennie Day-Burget

Public Information Officer

Here is another photo to file under Ops in Action!

 

Pictured below is Industrial Painter (IPs are part of the Operations Group), Shon Ponder, installing an overflow screen IN Marquam Tank 2. The need for an overflow screen was identified by the Department of Health during the last bureau Sanitary Survey. It was installed in order to meet regulatory requirements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since this work had to be performed with the tank full of water, staff call it "floating the tank".

Sounds kind of scary to me - the idea of working in the deep, dark depths of tank full of water?! I think my co-worker is pretty brave!

 

 

Jennie Day-Burget

Public Information Officer

Deeply disappointed by Punxsutawney Phil's dismal "6 more weeks of winter" forecast (booooo!), I sought a story that made me feel much happier on this chilly February Tuesday (hey - at least the sun is out)... and found some great news from the University of Portland.

Effective yesterday (2/1/10), U of P will no longer sell or use disposal plastic water bottles on campus, making it the first college or university on the West Coast to take such bold steps towards making campus a much more environmentally friendly haven.

 

KGW.com reports that 20 others schools across the nation have taken similar action.

 

Disposable plastic bottles will no longer be sold:

• at the university cafe
• in campus vending machines
• at concession stands during athletic events

And, being a university after my own heart, U of P will encourage the consumption of tap water and reusable containers as an alternative to disposal plastic bottles.

 

So, take that Punxsutawney Phil...while you're off bringing doom and gloom to the nation, the University of Portland is making it that much better!

 

Jennie Day-Burget

Public Information Officer

Water Operations and Support Manager, Crystal Yezman, recently sent Sarah Bott and I some great stock photos of "Ops (Operations) in Action!" We were both excited to get these because it provides us with great PWB imagery for creating publications like the employee newsletter The Bull Run Dispatch or for adding web/blog imagery.

This one is my favorite, hands down.

 

Pictured, is PWB Operating Engineer, Rob Brinkman, working on renovations in the Yeon Building last year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennie Day-Burget

Public Information Officer

"I Only Drink Tap Water" spotted on N. Mississippi Avenue, right here in P-town!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennie Day-Burget

Public Information Officer

 

 

The Water Bureau has been working with local blog, Neighborhood Notes, for quite awhile now. So, when head hancho, Ken Aaron, called me to see if he could arrange a time to visit and shoot photos of the Powell Butte Reservoir 2 (PB2) excavation, I was eager to oblige my media friend. I thought it also a good opportunity for me to grab my camera and head out to see what exactly is going on up there.

So, yesterday morning, PB2 Project Manager Teresa Elliot and I met Ken on-site to take a look at the progress. What an awesome site. Any of you who are keeping up with the project updates know that truck loads of dirt are being taken off-site quite often - according to Teresa, one truckload per four minutes! This is quite an efficient operation, people!

 

Here are some of my favorite photos. See the rest on Flickr!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennie Day-Burget

Public Information Officer

The Water Bureau celebrated the installation of Solar on the Slough  (SOS) earlier this week. SOS is our new solar array field that augments the power used at our groundwater supply source, the Columbia South Shore Well Field. In fact, the panels (of which there are 1,274) will produce about 1.5% of total bureau electricity used, 10% of the energy used at the groundwater well field. Electricity-wise, the panels will generate 300,000 kWh of electricity each year, equivalent to the energy consumed by about 50 homes.

 

The celebration event was held on Tuesday from 1:00 to 2:00. We had a great turn out and believe it or not, the sun peeked out to watch the events unfold! The ceremony included words from our partner group, tours of the array and a big "Flip the Switch" moment from Comissioner Leonard, who, after flipping the switch, excitedly remarked, "I can hear it buzzing!"

 

More photos from the event can be found on our Flickr photosharing site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennie Day-Burget

Public Information Officer

Water Bureau Operating Engineer, John Robson, gets quite a view from the top of Vernon Tank (High) in NE Portland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currently, OE's have been able to drain Vernon, but are repairing some welding before beginning the cleaning process.

 

Vernon Tank holds about 2.5 million gallons of water and was constructed in 1962.

 

Jennie Day-Burget

Public Information Officer

 

 

As many of you know, history is currently being made in regards to the city's open drinking water reservoirs at Mt. Tabor and Washington parks.

 

Here is a cool, old photo I found of Washington Park and where it all began....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennie Day-Burget

Public Information Officer

I found this little tidbit for our readers in Washington D.C.....While the Washington D.C. Dow Live Earth Run for Water is still three months away (April 18th), participants who register for the race by January 25th (that's Monday), can help get clean drinking water to Haiti, now.

 

For every person who registers for the Live Earth Run for Water in Washington, D.C.between now and January 25, Corrigan Sports will donate funds to purchase five gallons of water for the people of Haiti.

 

When you consider that the average person needs about 0.8 gallons of water per day for minimal survival, 5 gallons seems as though it will go a really long way for someone in need.

 

FYI: The event consists of a series of 6 km run/walks (the average distance many women and children walk every day to secure water) taking place over the course of 24 hours in countries around the world, featuring concerts and water education activities aimed at igniting a tipping point to help solve the water crisis. Jessica Biel, Alexandra Cousteau, Pete Wentz, Angelique Kidjo and Jenny Fletcher will lend their names and their time in support of this important cause.

 

On a side note, while the closest Run for Water to us is in Seattle, WA, the Water Bureau has already been contacted by Portland Roasting this year, who sponsor the Portland equivalent of this race on World Water Day, the Walk for Water. The 2010 Walk for Water will be held on March 21st. Both Commissioner Randy Leonard and Earl Blumenauer are on this year's speakers list.

Jennie Day-Burget

Public Information Officer