New Drinking Water System to Provide Benefits Now and for Generations

The Willamette Water Supply System is a brand-new drinking water system that will provide TVWD customers with safe, clean drinking water for generations. The new supply will give our region more flexibility to adapt to current and future water challenges. Customers will begin receiving water from the new supply as early as late-2026. Here are five key ways the new system benefits our community.

1. High-quality water. Water will be drawn from the Willamette River in Wilsonville, a trusted water source already used by many Oregon communities including Wilsonville and Sherwood. It will then undergo six steps of advanced treatment at a new, state-of-the-art facility, including filtration, ozonation, ultraviolet light, and chlorine disinfection. Your water quality will continue to meet - and in many cases exceed - state and federal drinking water standards.
2. Locally owned. This system is publicly owned and operated by TVWD and the Cities of Hillsboro and Beaverton. Local ownership means decisions about water rates, maintenance, and operations are made by water providers who are directly accountable to the communities they serve. This allows us to respond to and prioritize our community’s needs to best serve our community.
3. Earthquake resilient. A major earthquake will likely compromise our existing drinking water systems. This will help our region recover even after major shaking occurs and continue serving our valued customers, including residents, hospitals, day cares, and schools. This will be one of the most earthquake-resilient water systems in Oregon.
4. Meets current and future needs. Washington County’s population is forecasted to grow by more than 30% by 2050 - meaning higher demands for drinking water. This system gives our community an additional water supply so we can best meet our customers’ needs today and in the future.
5. Adaptable to climate challenges. Heat waves, stronger storm events, and wildfires are becoming more common. This system will help protect customers from service disruptions by providing more reliable access to drinking water during extreme weather events and allowing faster recovery after natural disasters – so water is there when our community needs it most.

Community safety is our top priority. This investment ensures safe, high-quality drinking water through advanced treatment and monitoring while strengthening reliability, local control, and long-term water security for our community for generations to come.