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Executive overview
Key findings
Close to 100 million gallons a day: Columbia South Shore Well Field capacity, backing up the Bull Run supply
2,253 miles: water mains in FY 2025 (City capital asset statistics)
$2.46 billion: Bull Run Filtration budget, 43% complete with $1,028.34 million spent at end-September 2026
7.07 times: first-lien debt service coverage in FY 2024-25
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Buyer relevance
Who the report is for
Suppliers and consultants new to the account
Get the Bureau's mandate, assets, major projects and governance on one reference, including 2,253 miles of mains and the 2029 filtration deadline.
Municipal credit analysts
Check first-lien coverage from 6.67 to 8.09 times over FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24 and the August 2026 ratings in one table.
Regional utilities and planners
Compare Portland's FY 2026-27 rates, typical bill of $70.89 and low-income discounts of 50% and 80% with their own.
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Decision scope
Questions answered
How many people does Portland Water Bureau serve?
Sources differ: about 840,000 (the Bureau's system page), 912,000 (EPA's WIFIA page) and close to one million (the FY 2024-25 Financial Plan).
What is the Bull Run Filtration budget?
$2.46 billion for the filtration facility and pipelines, within $2.58 billion of Bull Run Treatment Program funding; $1,028.34 million had been spent at end-September 2026.
How strong is debt service coverage?
First-lien coverage was 7.07 times in FY 2024-25 and combined first- and second-lien coverage 2.14 times.
What are the Bureau's climate targets?
Halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 against a 2007 baseline and reach net zero by 2050.
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Inside the report
Inside the complete report
Executive Overview
Utility and Service Mandate
Water Resources and Supply
Infrastructure and Treatment
Networks and Assets
Financial Position
Investment and Major Projects
Tariffs and Customer Context
Energy and Sustainability
Governance and Regulation
Climate and Resilience
Forward Developments
Key Intelligence Summary
Source Register
05
Public preview
What to watch next
Infrastructure and Treatment
Filtration completion percentage; the 2026 lead and copper monitoring results.
Financial Position
The FY 2025-26 annual financial report; rating commentary on further second-lien issues.
Investment and Major Projects
The project list in the FY 2026-27 budget and five-year capital plan adopted in June 2026 (the FY 2024-25 plan was $1.98 billion); a Willamette River Crossing decision in 2027.
Tariffs and Customer Context
The FY 2027-28 rate proposal, which had not been made as of mid-2026, and the rate study.
Financial Position and Investment: Water Fund coverage, debt and ratings, and the status of major projects.
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Included
What you receive
The complete PDF report: 11 pages, 14 sections, 15 tables and a register of 23 sources.
This edition
November 2026, First edition.
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Evidence & method
Evidence and method
The profile draws on the City of Portland's audited annual financial reports, Council rate and bond ordinances, the Bureau's system, project, water quality and climate pages, its financial plan and requested budgets, EPA's WIFIA record, and 2026 bond market and news reporting.
Sources
23 sources, listed in the report's source register. Evidence current to 12 November 2026. Principal data periods: City of Portland financial report FY 2024-25 (year ended June 30, 2025); FY 2026-27 adopted water rates; Bull Run Filtration status to end-September 2026; calendar 2024 and 2025 water quality monitoring. All currency is US dollars..
Evidence boundaries
This report uses authoritative source material available at the stated research cutoff. It distinguishes published facts, calculated values and analytical interpretation. No independent modelling is performed. Forward-looking analysis reflects published plans, documented trends and stated uncertainties. It does not constitute legal, financial, investment or engineering advice.
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Lead analyst
Robert C. Brears
Founder, Our Future Water Intelligence
Robert C. Brears is a water-security specialist and author whose work examines utility governance, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and long-term water-system change for executive and policy audiences.
- Decision-focused utility intelligence
- Published water-policy author
- Evidence-grounded system analysis
09
Buyer FAQs
Before you purchase
Who can use the report?
Licensed for internal use within one purchasing organization. The PDF and its contents may be shared with colleagues within that organization. External redistribution, resale and public publication are prohibited without permission.
How is the report delivered?
The PDF is available to download immediately after confirmed payment, through our secure delivery system.
Can my organization buy wider access?
Institutional purchasing: For invoice enquiries, multi-organization licensing or broader access requirements, contact Our Future Water Intelligence.
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Utility Intelligence Profile: Portland Water Bureau
- Format
- Length
- 11 pages
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Price
- USD 99
11
Report details
Publication details
- Publisher
- Our Future Water Intelligence
- Report family
- Utility Intelligence Profile
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Format
- Length
- 11 pages
- Reference
- OFW_EXT_PORTLAND_WATER_BUREAU_UTILITY_INTELLIGENCE_PROFILE_0f35b5c1b029
- Evidence current to
- 12 November 2026
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