Frequently Asked Questions
What's the current situation for safe reliable water in Polk County?
Individual water providers in the County have a variety of water sources, water rights, treatment systems, and storage capacities. While our communities generally have enough water today, securing reliable drinking water supplies is important to help sustain continuing economic and regional growth, and developing new supplies is a highly complex and challenging process with today’s economic and environmental constraints.
What role does Polk County play in finding and delivering regional solutions?
The County recently secured funding to help facilitate the Polk County Regional Water Supply Planning project and explore feasibility of a long-term, regional drinking water supply solution. Although not a water provider, the County does hold a water right for the use of the Willamette River and is looking at the best use for this resource to benefit Polk County communities.
What are the benefits of a regional water supply?
A regional water supply provides a number of benefits, including improved resilience and reliability to sustain a growing population and economy. Establishing partnerships and interties would utilize a major new supply while leveraging existing supplies helping water providers continue reliably serving Polk County communities into the future.
What is the Polk County Regional Water Supply Planning project?
Through a facilitated, collaborative process, this work will consider feasibility of a regional water supply for Polk County communities. The work will evaluate regional supply concepts including preliminary costs so there will be real decision-making information available. The work is being led by GSI Water Solutions Inc. and will begin in fall 2021 with an update to water needs in the County.
How will Polk County water providers be involved?
The County is leading a collaborative process to help answer the question “How can our communities enjoy the most efficient and resilient water supply system?” The County will be working to engage water providers throughout the process, including a workshop this fall to discuss project objectives, review baseline supply needs information, and brainstorm regional water supply benefits and opportunities. Additional workshops and engagement opportunities are planned throughout the project.
How is the project funded?
The regional planning project is funded through money the County received from the American Rescue Plan Act. The County continues to put money into public infrastructure by pursuing and advocating for state and federal dollars to help serve Polk County communities.
The Willamette River is a primary source of reliable water for Polk County. Is the Willamette a good source of water?
The Willamette River upper tributaries originate in the mountains south of Eugene. The river flows north through the Willamette Valley to its confluence with the Columbia River in Portland. Over the last 30 years, stringent environmental protection laws and significant restoration activities have improved water quality conditions in the Willamette River. Efforts continue to improve the health of the Willamette River basin through studies, cleanup efforts, and coordination by regulatory agencies and drinking water providers. Several communities already rely on the Willamette River for its municipal water supply (e.g. Corvallis and Wilsonville), and several other water providers are looking to utilize it for its long-term supply in the future.
How can I stay up to date?
We will update this project webpage at key milestones throughout the planning study. If you have specific questions, please reach out to our Project Manager Ronan Igloria with GSI Water Solutions at rigloria@gsiws.com.
