Officials with the City of Portland today shared an updated cost estimate and extended timeline for the Bull Run Filtration Project. The revised estimate of $2.56 billion reflects a $450 million increase associated with delays in the permitting process. The project will provide safe, high-quality drinking water for Portlanders and communities throughout the region.
While the Land Use Board of Appeals last week issued a decision affirming the project’s land use permits, the process caused significant delays to the project’s timeline. Learn more about the land use process and timeline here.
The City has requested from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) an extension to the September 2027 deadline for serving filtered water. The 24-month extension would account for delays caused by the land use process and provide flexibility to address unforeseen site conditions and weather delays. The additional time will allow the City to deliver this critical project without compromising construction safety or the integrity of the facility. The City remains committed to the interim public health measures required by OHA to protect the regional water supply. Learn about Cryptosporidium and the City’s Bilateral Compliance Agreement with OHA here.
The Bull Run Filtration Project includes a new filtration facility and pipelines. When completed, it will be the largest filtration facility in Oregon. The project will increase the water system's resilience and comply with federal and state safe drinking water regulations.
“Portland is planning for the future. The seismic and weather-ready upgrades of the Filtration Project will provide reliable, consistent, safe and high-quality water to our customers, particularly following a major earthquake, landslide, wildfire or major storm,” said Mayor Keith Wilson. “We are doing everything we can to expedite the delivery of this crucial investment in Portland’s economic viability and the public health and safety of our people.”
Click here to learn how the Camp Creek Fire threatened our regional water supply.
The City has implemented several fiscal strategies and is pursuing several others to keep the project cost as low as possible
- A value-engineering team was mobilized to identify cost-effective construction methods without sacrificing safety, resiliency, or quality. Strategies include increasing skilled on-site staffing, incorporating specialized legal expertise, and engaging a Project Delivery Advisory Team to strengthen internal processes and tools.
- Two Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans were secured to offset costs for customers, reducing borrowing costs and helping smooth rate impacts over time. Additional grant funding opportunities are being pursued to further protect ratepayers.
- Exploring ways to better align capital planning efforts across bureaus to improve coordination, transparency, and long-term decision making.
“Our number one priority now is the Bull Run Filtration Project. The magnitude of investment requires careful attention to every detail of this megaproject from top management and our skilled technical team,” said Director of Public Utilities Ting Lu. “We have reached a critical moment in construction and we will finish strong. Our customers are counting on us to deliver this project that’s critical to protecting their health and guarding against the risk of wildfire and extreme weather.”
Financing options coming to Council during budget discussions
Staff will propose annual adjustments to water and sewer rates for the upcoming 2026–27 fiscal year as part of the budget process. Financing options to fund the filtration facility and pipeline projects while mitigating the impact on rates will be included in the budget development process. Rates will be finalized in May through the utility rate and budget process, which includes opportunities for community input.
“As we move into the annual budget process, our responsibility is to fund this project in a way that is responsible and sustainable,” said Deputy City Administrator for Public Works Priya Dhanapal. “We know these decisions have real impacts on customers, which is why we are prioritizing cost control, financing strategies, and transparency about the choices ahead. We are committed to minimizing impacts on monthly bills while delivering the safe, reliable water system our region depends on.”
Managing long-term rate impacts has been a critical part of project management. The project team has used value engineering to find smarter, more cost-effective ways to complete construction without sacrificing safety or quality. State and federal funding opportunities have been secured with additional options being pursued to offset costs.
Source: City of Portland