Three-hundred “lucky” Portland Water Bureau residential customers are receiving surveys in the mail asking 47 questions about their water use. While some surveys can be annoying, these randomly chosen residents can provide valuable information that will be used to help develop water efficiency programs by North American utilities.

Twenty-six drinking water utilities are participating in this Water Research Foundation study in the US and Canada.  More than 14,000 single family residences will receive the surveys. The information provided by these families will be kept confidential, and will help create an accurate snapshot of current water use patterns, efficiencies of water use, and the factors that affect water use.

The Water Bureau hopes that Portland’s lucky 300 customers will complete and return the survey to help water utilities plan future water supplies and conservation efforts.

The survey is being conducted by the National Research Center located in Boulder, Colorado.

Terry Black
Community Information and Involvement