Portland has removed all known lead service connections from its distribution system. Exposure to lead through drinking water is possible if materials in a building’s plumbing contain lead. The level of lead in water can increase when water stands in contact with lead-based solder and brass faucets containing lead. 

If present, lead at elevated levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing.

The Portland Water Bureau is responsible for providing high-quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.

If you are concerned about lead in your drinking water, you can request a free lead-in-water test from the LeadLine. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the LeadLine, 503-988-4000, www.leadline.org or the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791, www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. 

People are exposed to lead in many other ways. In the Portland area, dust from paint in homes built before 1978 is the most common source of exposure to lead. Other sources include soil, pottery, traditional folk medicines and cosmetics, some sports equipment such as fishing weights and ammunition, and some occupations and hobbies.

Portland Water Bureau encourages customers to take necessary steps to avoid possible exposure to lead in drinking water: 

• Run your water to flush out lead. If the water has not been used for several hours, run each tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes or until it becomes colder before drinking or cooking. This flushes water which may contain lead from the pipes.
• Use cold, fresh water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap; lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula.
• Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
• Consider using a filter. Check whether it reduces lead – not all filters do. Be sure to maintain and replace a filter device in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality. Contact NSF International at 800-NSF-8010 or www.nsf.org for information on performance standards for water filters.
• Test your water for lead. Call the LeadLine at 503-988-4000 to find out how to get a FREE lead-in-water test.
• Test your child for lead. Ask your physician or call the LeadLine to find out how to have your child tested for lead. A blood lead level test is the only way to know whether your child is being exposed to lead.
• Regularly clean your faucet aerator. Particles containing lead from solder or household plumbing can become trapped in your faucet aerator. Regular cleaning every few months will remove these particles and reduce your exposure to lead.
• Consider buying low-lead fixtures. New brass faucets, fittings and valves, may contribute to lead in your drinking water. Federal law currently allows brass fixtures, such as faucets, to contain up to eight percent lead. These fixtures are labeled as “lead-free.” When buying new fixtures, consumers should seek out those with the lowest lead content. Visit www.nsf.org to learn more about lead content in plumbing fixtures. 

For additional information on reducing lead exposure, please visit Portland Water Bureau’s website.

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Join the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, the Portland Water Bureau and many other sponsors on Saturday, June 22nd, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm to celebrate nature and water in the city at the 12th annual Explorando el Columbia Slough festival. 

This free bilingual family event will be held at Whitaker Ponds Nature Park at 7040 NE 47th Avenue. Activities will be offered in both Spanish and English for all ages and will include:

• Guided canoe trips
• Rock climbing
• Live music
• Folk dancing
• Storytelling
• Arts and crafts
• Face painting 
• Authentic food from Que Bacano! Sabor Colombiano and Montiel's Cocina

The first 300 visitors will receive a free Explorando t-shirt. No registration is necessary. Please share your excitement for the event by “liking” the Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s Facebook page!

Doug Wise
Groundwater Protection Program

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On June 10th, the Portland Water Bureau was honored by the Water Research Foundation (WaterRF) with the Outstanding Subscriber Award for Applied Research. 

The annual award recognizes utilities that have made notable improvements to their treatment, delivery and or management processes through the successful application of Foundation-sponsored research.  Las Vegas Valley Water District was also honored with the same award for participating in research that has benefitted the broader drinking water industry.

According to the press release, WaterRF noted throughout a 25-year relationship, the Portland Water Bureau has proven to be a supportive and innovative Subscriber.

“Its staff [Portland Water Bureau] has been actively sharing their knowledge and expertise, most notably on climate change and infrastructure. WaterRF has benefited tremendously from its spirit of collaboration, with numerous members of its staff participating in research and administrative capacities on a volunteer basis for the Foundation,” the press release stated.

In announcing the award and 2013 winners, WaterRF’s Executive Director Rob Renner noted that this year’s winners represent the “Gold Standard” when it comes to researchers and subscribing utilities.

“Quite simply,” Renner said, “we could not achieve our mission without their tireless support. The international water community and the public they serve, benefit from their contributions to advancing the science of water.”

WaterRF is the world’s largest research organization dedicated to drinking water research.  The research conducted provides practical solutions to challenges facing the drinking water community today and into the future and aids water utilities, public health agencies and other professional organizations in providing safe, reliable and affordable drinking water to the public.​

To learn more about the Water Research Foundation, visit http://www.waterrf.org.

Lindsay Wochnick
Community Information & Involvement

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Over the summer months, a contractor for the Portland Water Bureau will be conducting geotechnical survey work in Washington Park. This work is part of the project to make improvements and changes to the two water reservoirs, including installing a 15-million gallon buried reservoir with a reflecting pool on top, generally in the footprint of the existing upper Reservoir #3. 

The geotechnical work will involve a crew using equipment to bore 12-inch diameter holes in the ground to install landslide monitoring devices that measure ground movement and groundwater depths. The survey work will also obtain sub-surface information necessary for the design of the new facilities. 

Each boring hole monitoring and sampling will take up to 3 days to complete and then be backfilled. Park users are encouraged to avoid these work areas.

The work is scheduled as follow:

Monday, June 17:Road Closure - SW Sherwood Blvd, from SW Kingston Ave. to SW Sacajawea Blvd. The street will be restricted to local access only, from 7:00 AM to 12 Noon. The closure is necessary to bring in a crane to lower equipment into the reservoir.

Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 21:  With Reservoir #3 drained in advance, a crew will perform borings inside the open reservoir.

One day during the week of June 24: Road Closure - SW Sherwood Blvd, from SW Kingston Ave. to SW Sacajawea Blvd. The street will be restricted to local access only,  for about 3  hours.

July to August 2013:  Crews will perform geotechnical boring throughout Washington Park, including the parking lots near the Japanese Gardens and tennis courts, a park service road, and sites around the perimeters of the two open reservoirs.

If you have any questions, please contact Tim Hall, Public Information, at 503-823-6926. Thank you for your cooperation.

Tim Hall
Community Information & Involvement

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Who do you call when your water pressure drops or something seems a bit off about your water?

Most customers don’t realize that the Portland Water Bureau has a Water Quality Hotline that is answered by staff 24/7. Staff will work to determine the cause of any potential issue.

Main breaks can often cause dirty looking water or maybe an issue has already been identified at a neighborhood pump station. Perhaps a routine uni-directional flushing is taking place near your home.

Our office staff will work with crews in the field to determine the cause and develop a solution as soon as possible.

These calls are tracked on a weekly basis to identify any trends and keep bureau staff aware of any recent issues that have been brought to our attention. For the most part, it’s typically a “quiet week,” but it’s important for customers to have a quick and direct way to let us know of issues as they arise. See the weekly report of calls from concerned customers.

If you experience any water quality issues, please call (503) 823-7525.

Also, if you haven’t seen the online Annual Drinking Water Quality Report, please take a moment to learn more.

Darcy Cronin
Community Information & Involvement

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