EWEB Celebrates Operators on the 75th Anniversary of the Hayden Bridge Filtration Plant
Six taps are always on at the Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant. They convey water from various stages of the treatment process, starting with raw water coming into the plant and ending with the treated water going out. Every hour of every day, EWEB’s water treatment plant operators test water from the taps to ensure the plant is functioning properly.
When pieces of equipment break, operators fix them. When problems arise, operators solve them. When the city needs more water, operators increase production.
This Saturday will mark 75 years of continuous staffing at the Hayden Bridge Filtration Plant since it first opened its doors on July 12, 1950.
To celebrate the anniversary, EWEB is highlighting the skill and dedication that water treatment plant operators bring to their trade. Scroll to see operators in action, learn about their different pathways to the plant, and hear how EWEB is working to diversify its water resources for the next three quarters of a century.
Now vs. Then
Seventy-five years of operation adds up to 657,000 hours of work time! Take a peek at operators in action circa 1950 to today.
Water Wisdom
Hayden Bridge has lots of sophisticated equipment, but it takes human expertise to operate the plant successfully. Visit this webpage to get a feel for a day in the life at Hayden Bridge and learn about each operator's unique perspective and pathway to the plant.
Upgrades & Expansions Over the Years
When it opened its doors 75 years ago, Hayden Bridge was the largest plant in the Pacific Northwest by filtration capacity. It also included the latest in testing and treatment technologies.
EWEB has been proactive about modernizing Hayden Bridge over the decades to comply with regulations and make the plant more resilient.
Upgrades have included a state-of-the-art lab, modern disinfection process, a backup generator, new Powder Activated Carbon (PAC) feed system, and extra treatment and storage capacity.
Many of the investments have already paid off. For example:
- The disinfection system enabled EWEB to dodge a statewide chlorine shortage in 2021.
- The backup generator saved us during the 2024 ice storm.
- And the PAC system helps operators handle emerging water quality risks in the watershed, such as toxic algal blooms.
Consistent investment in Hayden Bridge has been critical as it is the one and only plant serving all of Eugene.
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Photo: The original core of the Hayden Bridge Filtration Plant in blue; new infrastructure highlighted in green.
Now is the Time to Establish a Second Source
Our reliance on a single source of water and single treatment plant puts our community at great risk during an emergency. That's why EWEB is working hard to secure a second source for Eugene.
Read more about why diversifying our water resources is so important from Water Treatment Supervisor, Toby Dixon.
