Related News
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“We're just surrounded with people who are really helpful."
Michele Victor lost her home, septic system, and two cats to the fire. But thanks to EWEB's Septic System Repair and Replacement Grants, she is one step closer to rebuilding her home.
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EWEB Partners with the City and YMCA to Celebrate New Amazon Park Emergency Water Station Site
Hundreds of attendees practiced filling up water containers at Saturday's demonstration event.
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Salmon Watch program introduces next generation to their natural heritage on McKenzie River
It takes a village of watershed councils, teachers, and volunteers to bring hundreds of students to the water's edge to participate in their natural heritage.
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Source Water Protection Week: Our Commitment to Clean Water
EWEB celebrates our community's commitment to protecting the McKenzie River, the source of Eugene's drinking water.
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EWEB Communications Team Wins Top Awards at Northwest Innovations in Communications Conference
Competing against public utilities from across the region, EWEB brought home two significant awards in recognition of our work to engage and inform the community.
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September is National Preparedness Month: 3 tips to prepare your home & family
Let's "Be Ready" together!
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EWEB invests in preparedness for severe weather and natural disasters
Just as you take steps to safeguard your home and family, EWEB is investing in equipment and processes to ensure our community’s electric and water systems remain reliable in the face of adversity.
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EWEB customers achieve remarkable results in environmental stewardship through EWEB's Lead Green programs
Subscribers of EWEB's Lead Green programs helped reduce carbon emissions in 2023 by 730 metric tons of CO2e.
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EWEB, SUB and RWD join forces at Lane County Fair to distribute water to fairgoers
The Eugene Water & Electric Board, Springfield Utility Board and Rainbow Water District are teaming up for the 9th year to provide fairgoers with clean, cold free water.
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Community members can test out climate-friendly e-bikes at E-Bike Expo on Saturday
EWEB encourages Eugene residents to ride into summer on clean, accessible e-bikes, with a $300 e-bike rebate.
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EWEB Hosts Dinner to Appreciate Customers of the McKenzie River Valley
EWEB hosted a customer appreciation dinner at the Walterville Community Center on Thursday, May 23, in place of its yearly upriver Board meeting. The event allowed customers, EWEB Commissioners, and staff to share a meal and openly discuss topics most relevant to the McKenzie Valley community.
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EWEB bids a fond farewell to College Hill Reservoir and prepares for modern drinking water storage tanks
Several hundred Eugene residents came together on May 30 for a Farewell Celebration at EWEB’s College Hill Reservoir before demolition and construction to build modern drinking water storage tanks begins later this year.
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Drinking Water Week 2024
This week, we celebrate the value of clean, safe water, the importance of water infrastructure, and the critical role of water professionals.
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EWEB opens application for 2024 Electric Mobility Community Grants
Grant awards of up to $30,000 to cover costs associated with electric mobility projects.
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The Big Freeze 2024: After Action Report
Winter 2024 was one for the records books, and we'll look back on it for years to come and say, "That was a doozy!" The back-to-back January Ice Storms caused widespread damage to EWEB’s service territory, affecting approximately 38,000 customers. Preliminary repair costs were over $8 million, and additional repairs to transmission lines are still required.
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Tests show EWEB water is free of “forever chemicals”
March 21, 2023 • Rachael McDonald, EWEB Communications
EWEB is already in compliance with a new proposed federal rule that would require municipalities to test for PFAs, or forever chemicals, in drinking water. The good news for EWEB customers is that in over ten years of testing we have not found PFAs in our water.
On March 14, 2023 the Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS, (including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX Chemicals), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS)). The rule is set to be finalized by the end of 2023.
Brenda Casarez is EWEB’s water quality compliance specialist. She said PFAS have been around since the 1940s. They’re used for water-proofing and found in things like stain-resistant carpets, waterproof clothing and non-stick cookware.
“They do not break down in the environment,” said Casarez. “So, once we put them out there, they are there to stay.”
Scientific studies show exposure to PFAS can increase risk of cancers and birth defects as well as other health problems in people and animals.
“EWEB has been testing for PFAS since 2013 in our finished drinking water, so the water that goes to Eugene,” said Casarez. “And, we have not found any PFAS in the finished water. We also test the McKenzie River and a lot of the tributaries of the McKenzie River, and we have not found any PFAS.”
Casarez said testing technology has improved so that they can test for lower levels of PFAS and even at those low levels we do not see any PFAs in our drinking water or our source water. PFAs are a concern in other parts of the country. A recent study found high levels of the forever chemicals are found in freshwater fish in Lake Erie. Casarez said EWEB is complying with the proposed rule already.
“EWEB tests above and beyond for all of our contaminants,” said Casarez. “It does give a very comforting feeling that we test for these things, even before they are required, and we know that they are not in our water. It makes me very happy to be able to tell customers when they call me, we’ve already checked for that, and we don’t have it.”
More information on EWEB’s water quality testing.