UTL-2.03 - Columbia South Shore Well Field Wellhead Protection Program
REVISED COLUMBIA SOUTH
SHORE WELL FIELD WELLHEAD PROTECTION PROGRAM
Binding City
Policy
BCP-UTL-2.03
PURPOSE
WHEREAS, the City of Portland owns and operates the
Columbia South Shore Well Field as an emergency back-up and seasonal
augmentation source of water for retail and wholesale customers comprising about
one fourth of Oregon’s population;
WHEREAS, the Columbia South Shore Well Field is a major
resource to the region and should be protected from contamination resulting from
spills of hazardous materials;
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Water Works has worked with potentially affected
businesses located in the proposed expanded Wellhead Protection Area to develop
a substantially revised program to protect this important groundwater resource;
WHEREAS, the Wellhead Protection Program includes a five-year phase-in period
to assist existing businesses in planning and managing the financial impacts of
bringing their facilities into compliance with program requirements;
WHEREAS, education and technical assistance efforts supported by the Water
Bureau would facilitate a smooth phase-in by providing affected businesses with
training, informational materials, and technical resources;
WHEREAS, it is in the City’s interest to encourage residential and
agricultural property owners to take actions to protect groundwater, and such
actions can be supported through well-designed and delivered outreach and
educational efforts; and
WHEREAS, community-based organizations such as the Columbia Corridor
Association and the Columbia Slough Watershed Council are well positioned to
partner with the Bureau of Water Works to achieve its education, outreach, and
technical assistance objectives.
POLICY
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council hereby
directs the Bureau of Water Works to develop and implement a variety of
approaches to assist residential, agricultural, business and industrial property
owners and operators in the Columbia South Shore Well Field Wellhead Protection
Area in their efforts to protect groundwater resources and comply with program
requirements. Such efforts may include entering into and providing financial
support to community-based partnerships to provide outreach, education,
training, and/or technical assistance to affected property owners and/or
tenants. In addition, during the five-year phase-in period, inspection programs
shall emphasize facilitating compliance by providing information and technical
assistance to businesses.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Council also directs the
Bureau of Water Works to continue its ongoing collaboration with business and
industry representatives, other municipalities and City agencies in periodically
evaluating the information collected through reporting and inspections and
developing program revisions necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the
program in protecting ground water resources.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this Resolution is binding City
policy.
HISTORY
Adopted by Resolution No. 36156, effective July 2,
2003.