FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Cathy Hamilton
Eugene Water & Electric Board
84-4716 (work)
954-7509 (mobile)

WATER SUPPLY PLAN APPROVED BY EWEB COMMISSIONERS; MARKS BEGINNING OF IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION EFFORTS

Last night, Eugene Water & Electric Board Commissioners unanimously approved a water supply plan, enabling staff to proceed with the research of several major projects that will increase the amount of water available to the community. Specifically, the water supply plan includes provisions for expansion at EWEB's water filtration plant, increased conservation efforts, a new transmission line and reservoir, and wells that would be used for emergency back-up supply.

The Board's approval represents support of the overall strategy relayed in the supply plan. However, EWEB staff will return to the Board with specifics of each part of the plan. For example, as more details are available, the Board will be asked to approve the expansion of the filtration plant and to approve the details of project financing.

The plan includes strategies that address water system infrastructure, watershed protection, conservation and emergency planning. Together, it is estimated that the projects could cost between $35 and $50 million. These upgrades would most likely be paid for through a combination of water rates, utility bonds and revenue from system development charges (which are paid by new water users when they connect to the EWEB system).

The water supply plan has been in the works for more than two years and incorporated an extensive public involvement process in its development. For instance, a 13-member citizen group worked with EWEB staff and water resource planners and talked with the community on several occasions before it emerged with recommendations. Those recommendations formed the foundation for the plan that was adopted last night.

Eugene's demand for water has increased steadily over the past decade and culminated last summer when the community used record amounts of water on several occasions. In fact, water demand came close to eclipsing water supply last summer, reinforcing the need for EWEB to expand its treatment capacity. The last major development of EWEB's water system occurred 20 years ago.