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Topic Areas: Project Background & Alternatives | Water Quality | Project Cost & Timeline | About the New Plant | Related Projects
Project Background & Alternatives
Why is a second water source needed?
Eugene is one of the largest cities in the Pacific Northwest that relies on a single source of water, the McKenzie River. If something were to happen that shuts off our McKenzie drinking water supply, our community would have only about two to three days of stored water, which may not be enough in a major emergency.
Establishing a second source of water is critical to improving the reliability of our water system, especially following a disaster such as an earthquake, chemical spill or other incident that interrupts our primary McKenzie supply.
Both the new plant and the pipeline connecting it to the EWEB system will be built to modern seismic standards to withstand the impacts of a large earthquake or other natural disaster.
Why is the Willamette River the best option for a second water source?
EWEB has been studying and planning for a second water source for decades. Technical investigations, capacity studies, and risk and reliability assessments confirm that the Willamette River is the best option to provide Eugene with a second source of drinking water. The Willamette has excellent water quality and adequate supply to provide the amount of water needed to meet demand if something were to happen to the McKenzie.
EWEB has established water rights to draw up to 19 million gallons of water per day from the Willamette. By developing the Willamette Water Treatment Plant now, EWEB will be able to safeguard these water rights for the people of Eugene for generations to come. There are operational benefits and efficiencies as well, as the planned Willamette treatment plant and transmission main can be readily connected to existing infrastructure.
Why can’t we just build more storage in the system?
EWEB currently has approximately 2-3 days worth of storage in the water system at any given time. Adding more storage has the potential to create water quality issues. As water is stored, the chlorine concentration decreases. Chlorine is what protects human health in a drinking water system. The current storage system is right sized to provide a comfortable buffer of backup water for emergencies and fire suppression, while also facilitating efficient turnover for normal daily usage.
Why can’t our interties with Springfield meet our needs?
The Springfield Utility Board (SUB) and EWEB’s water systems are connected by multiple interties. These interties are closed during normal circumstances but can be opened to provide water during emergency situations.
While interties can provide some short-term relief, they are not a viable long-term backup solution. SUB does not have the capacity to meet EWEB’s water needs for an extended period, and extensive upgrades would be required to enable efficient flow.
Building a second water treatment plant is a better option for long-term resiliency for both Eugene and Springfield.
Water Quality
Is the Willamette River water safe?
Safe drinking water is our top priority. Regular water quality testing at the Willamette intake site since April 2013 indicates that the water quality at the Willamette River location is similar to samples taken at the McKenzie River intake for EWEB’s Hayden Bridge Plant.
EWEB water quality specialists will continue to sample the Willamette River and work with local landowners and conservation groups to prioritize conservation work and restoration projects that protect the water from contamination. The new Willamette Water Treatment Plant will use state-of-the-art technology to produce the highest quality drinking water and will meet or exceed all public health standards – so you can rest assured that EWEB will continue providing outstanding water to the people of Eugene.
Will the water taste good?
As proposed, the new treatment plant will have robust treatment processes able to treat all anticipated raw water conditions in the Willamette both with respect to water quality and taste/odor to a level higher than the existing Hayden Bridge Treatment Plant drawing from the McKenzie River.
Will the McKenzie and Willamette water be blended?
As proposed, the new treatment plant would operate daily to ensure its reliability and operation when needed. This would mean some amount of blending in the system.
Project Cost & Timeline
How much will the project cost?
Currently, the Willamette Water Treatment Plant is budgeted at $100 million over the course of six years. Although we are planning to fund the project through capital reserves and revenue bonds, EWEB is actively pursuing other sources of funding.
How will the project impact customer rates?
EWEB implemented a water rate increase in 2023 to start saving for the construction of the Willamette Water Treatment Plant and spread out the cost burden on customers. The current projection for a fully rate-funded project shows a $7/month increase to the average single-family residence by the end of our 10-year Capital Improvement Plan, which would move us from second lowest to fourth lowest in rates among our comparators. We hope to bring that number down by utilizing outside funding opportunities.
When will construction begin?
At this time, EWEB's long-term financial plan has construction tentatively starting in 2026.
While EWEB has been planning for years for a second source project, a great deal of work remains, including working with the City of Springfield on land use permitting. The team is also working to obtain environmental permits and complete the detailed design of the plant.
About the New Plant
Where will the new plant be located?
Under the proposed plans, EWEB would draw water from the Willamette just below the confluence of the Coast Fork and the Middle Fork. The treatment plant would be located in Glenwood, between the Willamette River and I-5.
Will the plant be built to modern seismic standards?
Both the new plant and the pipeline connecting it to the EWEB system will be built to modern seismic standards to withstand the impacts of a large earthquake or other natural disaster.
Related Projects
What other work is EWEB doing to improve the resiliency of our water system?
A second treatment plant is just one of many investments EWEB is making in drinking water infrastructure. We are also strengthening our base-level water storage, building new transmission mains, developing emergency water stations, and restoring and protecting the McKenzie watershed.
Where can I find the nearest Emergency Water Station to my home?
Learn more about the Emergency Water Stations here.
