Tomorrow’s Agenda:
This one came up pretty fast - we think the Water Bureau is hoping it will slide through unnoticed.
The Portland Water Bureau is going in front of the City Council to request a budget increase for the water filtration plant.
What started out at $350 Million, rose to $500 Million, then $850 Million and is currently $1.84 Billion.It appears that the request will take them up over $2.1 Billion and they are at least 5 years away from proposed project completion.
How far do you think this could go?
Is there any oversight or stopping this freight train.
Yes, it’s been done before, but you need to get involved.
It’s easy, just write the council and tell them you do not support this project or the increase.
We’ve made it simple and easy. A sample email letter is on the link along with how to send it.
Please copy, paste, share. Support the cause - see the link on our website.
Come one Portland, you can’t afford to NOT be involved.
---------------
https://www.bullrunwaterguardians.com/send-a-council-letter.html
------------
Go to https://www.portland.gov/council-clerk/submit-written-testimony
Check Agenda Item #299 and Position Oppose
COPY AND PATE INTO THE COMMENTS BODY THE FOLLOWING -OR- USE YOUR OWN WORDS.
---
OR Send directly to: councilclerk@portlandoregon.gov
Subject: Stop the PWB Water Filtration Plant
----
Dear Current and Future Council Members,
Along with thousands of other Portlanders, I am concerned that the Portland Water Bureau water treatment plant has grown to a staggering 1.84 BILLION and is still growing. I understand that the Portland Water Bureau is AGAIN coming to you to approve another budge increase, and we are 5 plus years away from completion of the proposed project. We believe that the PWB intends to ask for incremental increases along the way, minimizing the shock of adding another Billion dollars to an already out of control and avoidable project.
We are aware that other options are available, such as UV and UV plus Ozone, and that the PWB arguments of the additional benefits of a filtration plant are not unanswerable. Most talking points can be addressed by other less expensive purification means or have no impact and are scare tactics.
Current economic conditions of record inflation, increased food and utility costs are draining our budgets and are heavy on the minds of all Portlanders. The exodus of ratepayers and wholesale customers mean fewer people to share in the costs of the water bureaus operations. Portland already has the 5th highest water rates in the nation, and will exponentially climb if that plant is allowed to move forward.
Therefore, I urge you to support the protection of safe, affordable water for our community, while being good stewards of Portlanders/voters/citizens funds. I urge you to STOP the reckless spending, avoid any further unnecessary overspending towards a filtration treatment plant and consider other more cost-effective options such as building a UV approved plant at Headworks.
Respectfully,
A concerned Portland ratepayer,
(your name)