Last month, the Portland Water Bureau dropped its latest Drinking Water Quality Report, giving us the lowdown on the H2O that flows to nearly a million Portlanders from its two main sources: the Bull Run Watershed and the Columbia South Shore Well Field, as per the City of Portland.
Ensuring that the water is clean means testing, lots of it, over 11,000 tests a year, tracking more than 200 potential contaminants, according to the field tester Thomas Krause, who chatted with the folks over at Portland.gov. Krause's team takes to over 270 sampling stations throughout the city's distribution system, where they grab samples and measure stuff like pH and conductivity, ensuring that what ends up in your glass is not just wet but safe.
"What are you looking for?" isn't just a question for seekers of profound truths but a practical one when it comes to your drinking water. Field testers like Krause are on the lookout for a medley of variables, pH levels, chlorine content, and turbidity, which means the clarity of the water
The how and why of Krause's career path is unexpected—from punk rock bassist to vigilant water tester — it's quite the leap, but he found his groove at Portland Community College. He eventually bagged a bachelor's in environmental science from Portland State University, which somehow channels that DIY band spirit into making sure Portland's water is not just flowing but flourishing.
