The risk is real
We know that emerging risks and disruptions from climate change will present new challenges that require bold solutions.
As the climate shifts, streamflow and snowfall accumulation will decrease. Meanwhile, water temperature changes and wildfires are expected to increase in frequency and severity. If we don’t pay close attention and react as necessary, these variables could impact our water supply.
Our outdoor staff are vulnerable to climate change impacts
More than half of our employees spend their work-days outside, in the elements. They work on our water system 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and extreme heat events can put their health and safety at risk.
The well-being of our personnel is at the center of our short- and long-term planning as we forecast and respond to these weather events.
Climate change impacts everyone, but certain communities are hit first and worst
Severe droughts, floods, heat waves, and wildfires can disproportionally harm lower-income and historically marginalized communities. The investments we make today will help mitigate those impacts in the future.
We are well-prepared to meet the challenges of the future
Our new Supply System Master Plan incorporates climate change into our long-range water resource planning. We’re making responsive, flexible plans that we’ll adapt to changing conditions and new data.
The mainly rain-fed Bull Run Watershed is our primary water source. We’re fortunate to have a robust second supply in the Columbia South Shore Well Field groundwater system.
Conservation prepares us for the changing climate
Portlanders have a long history of wise water use. Even though the population of the Portland area has grown in recent years, the amount of water used by each customer has declined.
Conservation is especially valuable in helping to stretch the existing water supplies during dry, hot summers.
We use science to inform our decisions
We partner with federal agencies and research institutions, including Portland State University, the Oregon Climate Change Institute, and the US Forest Service, to evaluate science and create climate change planning tools.
We are a national leader on climate change
The Portland Water Bureau is Chair of the Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA), a national coalition of twelve large water utilities. WUCA’s collaboration and planning enable water utilities to adapt to climate change. Locally, we collaborate with other City of Portland bureaus on climate action and climate resilience planning and research.
Learn more about WUCA’s climate adaptation work by watching the video below.
Our commitments for the future
1. The Portland Water Bureau is committed to reducing organizational carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030.
2. We will purchase at least 80 percent direct renewable energy by 2030.
3. We will integrate meaningful climate analysis into our engineering project planning by the end of 2022.
Learn all about the work we do at portland.gov/water