OOPPPS. Talk about your Freudian slip! I fixed it...please don't sue me, Jack!

Why would anybody want to blog about the water bureau?

Well, Lefty, how do you feel about covering the reservoirs or installing a $250 million dollar filtration system for water that is virtually -and naturally- contaminant free (as the Feds are contmplating ordering us to do)?

The water bureau has literally dozens of properties in and around Portland that are fenced off from the public. Should the fences be removed so local neighborhoods can use those properties for open space, parks or community gardens?

Should we revitalize the Water Bureau's Dodge Park property at the confluence of the Bull Run and Sandy Rivers as a camp ground with a Portland Water Bureau interpretive center within the campground?

Will Portlanders support using water bureau funds to maintain those spaces for community use in addition to water bureau use?

How about protecting the old growth forest around our source drinking water from logging or human encroachment?

Do you think we should regionalize our water system by selling parts of our water rights to Bull Run to Washington and Clackamas county residents in order to reduce Portland citizens water bills? Is it worth the trade off?

Should we continue to aggressively sell our water to outlying communities or should we encourage them to develop their own water sources in order to have adequate water for future generations of Portlanders.

When I served in the legislature, I saw normally polite and courteous people, generally from east of the Cascades, become enraged when they felt their water rights were threatened.

We take for granted in Portland what others literally go to war over. Water. Pristine, healthy, natural and abundant water.

Others before us were true visionaries in creating the watersystem we have. Literally a pipe from the hills of Mt. Hood to all parts of Portland that to this day delivers the best water in the world.

Portlanders must understand that we have a water delivery system that is aging. To fix it will cost money. That means rate increases beyond the Consumer Price Index. Alot more. That generally makes people mad. Really mad.

We have to be as visionary to preserve and protect our water for future generations as were our ancestors. Sometimes well meaning people have vastly different views on how to do that. They can be very, very passionate about their opposing positions.

It is my hope that this blog will encourage good, civil debate on some of those issues that will result in our community supporting the changes that must come to the Portland Water Bureau.

What plans do yo have to lower our water rates? I thought we had the most expensive water on this coast? I mean aesthetics are nice and I agree Mr Saltzman throwing consulting work to his buddies at Montgomery Harza is not the most reassuring thing, but it comes down to what are you doing to save money.

Thanks, Randy, for the sad reminder about your foolish opinions regarding the gay marriage debacle back in '04. With all that's happened since, I'd sort of forgotten how utterly misguided you, the same-sex government, and all the other anti-democracy activists in Multnomah County truly were on that issue. Everything Jack B. said at the time was spot on, and everything you said was flat wrong. The magnitude of your political and legal miscalculations is breathtaking in retrospect - I'd encourage everyone to follow your link and see for themselves. Man, did you guys take a prison pounding on that one - by both SCOTSOO and the voters! What's equally amazing is that you and the Fab Four are, like...still in power. Crazy. You geniuses set the cause of gay rights back years in Oregon with your dictatorial shenanigans - you know that, right? Bang-up job, y'all.

Todd- In case you had not noticed, this thread is on water...not gay rights.

Steve- In fact, our sewer rates are among the highest. Our water rates, however, are under the national average.

This last year, for an example, water rates went up six tenths of one percent...yep, less than one percent.

We do need to finish the new sewer system, However, we cannot allow the water distribution system, some of which is over 100 years old, to be neglected as a result.

Since July 1, I have refused to sign contracts that have amounted to over one million dollars. That money will be spent instead on replacing aging pipes that are in the ground.

I do think we will need to raise rates to pay for what needs to be done...but I will recommend that only after the Water Bureau proves to the community that it is spending what it currently recieves prudently.

We also have the opportunity, I believe, to make better use of their properties to open up space for the public to use.

All of this goes out the window, however, if the Feds order us to install a filtration system we do not need.

Jack- Your observation of the billing system is one I have made as well.

I am pushing for a "Hawaii Style" billing system. In Hawaii the bill for water and sewer are on one document. However, the left side has a separate color, logo and itemization for the water bill. The right side is the sewer bill.

I have also expressed concerns that customer billing has been moved to a separate bureau. However, I have been impressed when we contact this new entity to fix problems citizens are having with their bills.

And you are absolutely right about the urban vs suburb issues relative to water. In fact, look forward to an article in the Oregonian either tomorrow or Tuesday on that very subject.

How serious an impact are rising energy costs likely to have on the cost of water?

Marvinlee- We have a lot of heavy equipment and vehicles that use fossil fuels. The cost of fuel will have a big impact on our water delivery operation, but at this point I don't know to what extent.

If you go to PortlandWaterBureau.com and post that question, someone will get you a precise answer.

However, I have directed the Water Bureau to have a plan in place within the next 2 months to purchase nothing but 100% bio diesel to fuel all of our diesel powered equipment.

I have also directed that from this point on that only vehicles that have diesel engines will be approved for purchase. Virtually any type of vehicle that the water bureau currently uses is available with a diesel engine. Therefore, all vehicles and equipment can be fueled with bio diesel...a fuel created from crops that are grown right here in Oregon.

Paul- I do know that Sam is developing a policy on the storm water discount program. Given that he is meeting with a variety of groups to develop the storm water discount formula, I am hesitant to speculate what the final policy might look like.

I am sending Sam an email and I will ask him to respond to you directly.

Paul,

Since I went to both the west and east side forums for the stormwater discount issue. These are the highlights of the discussion:

1. Upwards of a 35% discount for all citizens that are within the city limits. This will depend on location and measures that the "ratepayer"(if it is not the owner) of the property takes to reduce stormwater flow from the property to the system.
2. If you do not qualify the discount then you get an increase on your bill.
3. For some areas of town, there will be a retroactive discount for one year because of long-term payments in to the system with out using the system.
4. This discount program will be reviewed ever year to see what can be done to make it a better system.
5. The term of the discount program is potential no longer than 10 years.
6. The usage of low-income tax credits for the low-income ratepayers that is a program from the state and federal level.
7. An educational blitz for all citizens to understand the program.

Oh I forgot to say thanks to Cmmrs. Leonard and Sten to stay on track on this issue, Cmmr. Adam's learning the BES issue so quickly, Rep. Merkley and former Superindendent of David Douglas School District Dr. Horner for not allowing this issue to fade away from outer East Portland, and all those other regular citizens thru out Portland that kept the fight on City Hall to right the wrong.

My Great-Uncle Lawrence Kaiser was the first meter reader in Portland 100 years ago, when there were only four meters to read. He was later the Superintendent of the Water Bureau. Lawrence died half a year after I was born, so I never knew the man, but I knew lots about him. His widow, my aunt Olive, was an important person in my life (one of the three matriarchs of the Smith clan). -- There is a park up in Bull Run, I believe below Dam # 2, named after him.

From what I understand from my family, there was a near cult like atmosphere in the Water Bureau back in the 1920's - 1940's about keeping the water pure. The water shed has been closed for all these years. Nothing nasty has ever happened up there. Portland's water is pure because of forward thinking. It really doesn't need filtration, because filtration exists to take out impurities - that frankly aren't there.

What the Portland water system needs is to leave it alone - at least in terms of the actual water. If Portland needs an exemption from the Federal Water standards to avoid this costly filtration system, then it should get it. The billing system has been a disaster, but that has nothing to do with water quality. The sewer system, especially the runoff water / sewer water separation, has been a nightmare. But these are both technical problems that are nearing resolution.

The one thing I would suggest is that the Water Bureau take its debt upon completion of a computer revamp and the sewer completion, and refinance it. I think that these long term capital expenses should be refinanced into a 20 year bond or something like that. It would stabilize and possibly reduce the monthly bill for debt payment.

When Uncle Lawrence thought about the water system, he tried to plan ahead for 100 years. I would hope that the current administration would attempt to do the same, rather than get mired down in a short term vision.

(Billee - if you are lurking out there, you are a generation closer, and might have more perspective on Lawrence's passion for the water. SCB)

Great comment, Steve. Thank you. Would you post it over on the water bureau blog as well? The water bureau employees will appreciate reading of your Great Uncle Lawrence Kaiser.

I have a copy of the book "Water; Portland's Precious Heritage" written by Casey Short in 1981. Your Great Uncle Lawrence is mentioned prominently in the book. He was the head of the Water Bureau, then called Superintendent, from 1914 to 1947. He was known for leading a tremendous expansion of the system...including installing meters.

Lawrence Kaiser and others left us a great legacy. One of the many benefits of our system, as you said, is that we do not need to filter our water. It already has been filtered by the most sophisticated eco system known to man...old growth forests. I anticipate a fight with the Feds over this issue.

Your Great Uncle had a tremendous amount of public support that allowed him to plan 100 years in the future. That public good will has, as you point out, been severely tested over the past number of years.

It is my intention to work to regain Portlanders confidence in their Portland Water Bureau so that we again can have a discussion, absent of distrust, about where we want our water system to be for future generations.

I work at the Water Bureau and have read these posts with great interest. One clarification: the pending federal regulation that may affect the Portland water system will not require FILTRATION. It would rather, require that the city provide additional TREATMENT to address the potential threats of a microorganism called cryptosporidium.

The distinction is important only because there are existing treatment technologies that are cheaper than filtration. Ultraviolet is an increasingly common treatment approach and the rough estimates for what it would cost the city to implement are in the $55 to $60 million range in contrast to the $200+ million for filtration.

That said, any investment is too high when there's no net benefit to water quality. That is why the city, beginning with Commissioner Saltzman and Mayor Potter and now Commissioner Leonard, have been working to obtain an alternative compliance approach from the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Any way we can garnish Sten's wages to pay for some of that $30 million he wasted on the old new billing system? That'd help me think more highly of the water bureau.

The billing system was a mistake. Not an intentional mistake. But still a mistake.

My test of leadership is not measured by those who never make mistakes. Those who expect that do not live in the real world.

My test of leadership is measured, in part, by how individuals react when they make a mistake.

Does a person that makes a mistake make excuses, blame others or refuse to take responsibility? Those reactions tell me everything I need to know about that person.

On the other hand, does a person that makes a mistake take responsibility for it and learn a lesson from the mistake made? Those reactions tell me this is a person of integrity and conviction.

When the water bureau billing system did what it did I was not on the council. However, I remember reading a quote from Erik Sten wherein he took complete responsibility for the mistake and was committed to learning from the mistakes he learned from developing the new billing system.

I remember being impressed. Erik met one of my tests of leadership. No excuses. No blaming. Accepting responsibility.

For me at the time, I concluded the issue of the billing system was certainly a mistake, but an honest one.

I, for one, have never had the luxury of living in a mistake free world.

And although I am not prone to biblical quotes, one does seem appropriate here;

"...He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone..."

Well, that's just great. He took responsibility. What a great leader. And we're stuck with a $30 million bill. I sure hope he'd learn from a $30 million mistake. Heck, I'm not leadership material, but I'd hope that after costing the city/consumers/taxpayers millions that I'd learn from my mistake, too. Yet, we're still stuck with a fiasco that's fresh in the wind, and that's why I don't trust the leadership.

We certainly have different defintions of leadership and taking responsibility for one's actions.

Chris- I assume you are just as offended that our local utilities charge nearly $100 million annually to rate payers for taxes they never pay.

I assume you are also not too pleased that PGE rates are 31%higher for homeowners and 39%higher for businesses than Pacificorp charges their Portland customers.

I could go on, but, it seems to me that to be consistent you must be at least 31% more angry at PGE/Enron as you are Erik.

Sorry, I thought this post was about the Water Bureau and leadership; not the other utilities. Next time let me know in advance, and I'll calculate the percentage level of offense I carry for other abusive monopolies for your comparison.