Portland Water Bureau Washington Park Reservoir Improvements Tour 

The Portland Water Bureau supplies drinking water to more than 950,000 people in the Portland metro region. A large capacity reservoir at Washington Park is an essential part of Portland's water system, serving areas west of the Willamette River. In order to comply with federal and state mandates and ensure a healthy, resilient, and secure water system, the Portland Water Bureau has undertaken an eight-year capital improvement project to update the Washington Park reservoir site. Currently, Washington Park's open Reservoirs 3 and 4 occupy the site along with two gate houses, a weir building, three pump houses, a generator house, and associated underground piping. the reservoirs are part of an ingenious gravity-fed drinking water sustem constructed more that 120 years ago in 1893 and 1894, respectively. A new 12.4-million gallon, seismically reinforced, below ground reservoir will be constructed in the footprint of existing Reservoir 3 with a reflecting pool/water feature on top. The reservoir will not only maintain the historic drinking water function provided by the original reservoirs, but will be engineered to withstand ongoing landslide encroachment and potentially catastrophic effects of a major earthquake. Reservoir 4 will be disconnected from the public drinking water system, and a lowland habitat area, bioswale, and reflecting pool will be constructed in the basin. When complete and online, the new underground reservoir will supply water to Portland's west side, including all downtown businesses and residents, the Oregon Zoo, more than 60 parks, six hospitals, and 20 Portland Public schools. For more information, wisit the project website.

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Tour Description

We will have a guided walking tour through the Washington Park Reservoirs project with Portland Water Bureau Resource Protection and Engineering personnel. Starting from the goose Hollow/SW Jefferson Street Max platform, we will walk up Jefferson Street to enter the site, don the necessary PPE, and get a project overview at the construction trailers. We will then proceed through the active construction site on foot with a guide from the project construction team, return to the trailers to remove PPE and sign out, and then walk back to the Max station. The site is in hilly terrain, so be prepared to climb a few hills. If anyone requires mobility accommodations please let us know in advance so appropriate arrangements can be made.

More Details

Tour Guides: Jerry Moore, Sr. Engineering Associate and Doug Wise, Water Resources Program Manager

Personal Protective Equipment: hard hat, safety vest, eye protection, gloves, boots (rugged with ankle support, steel toes not necessary). Loaners will be available on the site, but you'll almost certainly be more comfortable with your own!