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Executive overview
Key findings
Close to 100 million gallons a day: capacity of the Columbia South Shore Well Field, about half Bull Run's daily capacity
About 93 million gallons a day: average water delivered, about 31.8 billion gallons in the fiscal year reported in the FY 2024-25 Financial Plan
2,253 miles of mains and 204 million gallons of storage: FY 2025 capital asset statistics
43% complete: Bull Run Filtration at end-September 2026; filtered water is required by September 30, 2029
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Buyer relevance
Who the report is for
Engineering and infrastructure firms
Map the network (2,253 miles of mains, 204 million gallons of storage) and the status of filtration, Washington Park and the paused Willamette River Crossing.
Regional water providers and planners
Understand the Bull Run and well field supply arrangement and the end of most of the 19 regional water sales agreements on June 30, 2026.
Public finance and policy analysts
See who decides rates, borrowing and compliance, from City Council's 9-3 bond vote to the Oregon Health Authority's September 30, 2029 deadline.
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Decision scope
Questions answered
Where does Portland's water come from?
Mainly the Bull Run, about 30 miles east of the city, which supplied 98% of city water in FY 2014-15 and 86% in FY 2015-16; the Columbia South Shore Well Field can produce close to 100 million gallons a day as backup.
Who regulates the filtration requirement?
The Oregon Health Authority, through a Bilateral Compliance Agreement entered in 2017 and revised in 2023 and 2026, which requires filtered water by September 30, 2029.
How large is the distribution network?
The City's FY 2025 capital asset statistics list 2,253 miles of water mains, 204 million gallons of local storage and 14,898 fire hydrants.
What does a typical household pay?
The typical residential water bill at 5 ccf a month is $70.89 in FY 2026-27, up 8.1% from $65.57.
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Inside the report
Inside the complete report
Executive Overview
1. Water Resource Profile
2. Governance and Institutional Framework
3. Infrastructure and Service Delivery
Strategic Outlook and Opportunities
Source Register
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Public preview
What to watch next
1. Water Resource Profile
Filtration progress toward the 2029 date; the length of any future switch to groundwater; wildfire seasons in the Bull Run.
2. Governance and Institutional Framework
Any further revision of the compliance agreement; Council's FY 2027-28 rate decision; how the Unified Capital Improvement Program changes budgeting for the two bureaus.
3. Infrastructure and Service Delivery
A restart decision on the Willamette River Crossing; main break and water loss figures after FY 2023-24; smart meter activation from mid-2027.
Strategic Outlook and Opportunities
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); the FY 2027-28 rate proposal and rate study findings; filtration spending against its $2.46 billion budget.
Infrastructure and Service Delivery: network assets by source and period, main break and water loss indicators, and treatment projects.
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Included
What you receive
The complete PDF report: 11 pages, 6 sections, 12 tables and a register of 23 sources.
This edition
November 2026, First edition.
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Evidence & method
Evidence and method
The report draws on the Bureau's system, supply, project and water quality pages, its Water Management and Conservation Plan and requested budgets, City ordinances and audited annual financial reports, the Environmental Protection Agency'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 financial report and capital asset statistics for FY 2024-25 (year ended June 30, 2025); FY 2026-27 adopted rates; Bull Run Filtration progress to end-September 2026; calendar 2024 and 2025 water quality monitoring; supply and demand series from FY 2008-09 to FY 2023-24. 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
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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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Water Systems Overview: Portland Water Bureau
- Format
- Length
- 11 pages
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Price
- USD 499
11
Report details
Publication details
- Publisher
- Our Future Water Intelligence
- Report family
- Water Utility Intelligence Report
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Format
- Length
- 11 pages
- Reference
- OFW_EXT_WATER_SYSTEMS_OVERVIEW_PORTLAND_WATER_BUREAU_08b2bc6ba982
- Evidence current to
- 12 November 2026
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