Portland’s famed Bull Run water supply has hit a snag, and the city is leaning on its backup plan to keep the taps running.
The Portland Water Bureau recently found a leak in one of the conduits that carries Bull Run water toward the city and promptly shut that line down for repairs. To fill the gap, the bureau is now blending in groundwater from the Columbia South Shore Well Field while crews inspect the damaged pipe and figure out what it will take to fix it. Officials say repairs could take an uncertain amount of time, and it may be up to two weeks before the groundwater blend fully works its way through the system to every neighborhood.
According to the Portland Water Bureau, the Columbia South Shore Well Field is kept on standby as a secondary source and is tested regularly so it can quickly supplement or temporarily stand in for Bull Run when needed. The bureau notes that groundwater from the well field meets or exceeds state and federal drinking water standards when it enters the distribution system.
As reported by KGW, crews tracked the leak to a spot near Mount Hood in one of the large conduits that deliver Bull Run water and immediately took that segment offline. Dr. Ting Lu, a city water official, told reporters that tapping the well field is part of the system’s built-in backup plan, saying the city’s water system is designed for resilience. KGW also noted that the bureau has not given a firm end date for repairs and that the groundwater blend could take up to two weeks to reach customers’ taps.
What customers may notice
Some Portlanders might notice a change in how their water tastes or feels as more groundwater flows into the system. Well water typically has a higher mineral content than Bull Run surface water, which can slightly alter taste or mouthfeel. The Water Bureau says the groundwater remains safe to drink. If you have questions about taste, odor, or discolored water, you can call the Water Quality Line at 503-823-7525 or check the bureau’s customer pages for guidance. For more contact options, see Portland Water Bureau customer service.
What to expect next
City crews are working on the damaged conduit and tracking how the Bull Run and groundwater blend moves through the system. The bureau has said it will provide updates as repairs progress. Commissioner Kimberly Gupta publicly thanked Water Bureau staff for their quick response to the incident, according to KGW, and officials continue to urge anyone with health concerns to contact the Water Quality Line.
