PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland switched back to its primary water supply from the Bull Run watershed after switching over to an emergency water supply system for 36 hours. The city had to make the switch after a toppled tree damaged a treatment plant east of the city.
The Portland Water Bureau said it began using safe-to-drink groundwater from the Columbia South Shore Well Field on Monday, when a windstorm sent a tall evergreen crashing into the bureau's Lusted Hill facility in Gresham.
Portland Water Bureau officials said emergency repairs to the Lusted Hill treatment facility have been completed, which allowed the city to begin using its primary water supply again.
"The Columbia South Shore Well Field performed as intended, meeting our community’s drinking water needs," the water bureau said in a news release. "Portland is fortunate to have access to two excellent water sources that meet or surpass all federal and state drinking water regulations. This allows us to be prepared for the range of conditions, including damage from storms."
