March 9, 2015

This week is dedicated to one of our most valuable renewable resources: groundwater!

Groundwater makes up 95% of all fresh water in the world.  It occurs when rain soaks into soil and moves deep underground to fill natural aquifers. 

Groundwater serves as the secondary source for Portland’s drinking water, after the Bull Run Watershed.  The Portland Water Bureau has 27 wells in three regional aquifers in the Columbia South Shore Well Field.  The Well Field can provide nearly 100 million gallons of quality drinking water each day in an emergency, or to augment the Bull Run’s supply during the hot summer months. 

Help keep our groundwater clean by reporting any chemical spills or illegal dumping.  Call Oregon Emergency Response System at 1-800-452-0311 and the Bureau of Environmental Services at (503) 823-7180. 

Check out the Portland Water Bureau’s website to learn more about Portland’s groundwater.