Water Supply Integration

Water supply integration is the process of introducing and incorporating this new water source into TVWD’s water system, which will be completed in four phases. During integration, you may notice some temporary changes to the look, taste, or smell of your drinking water. This is perfectly normal and expected. 

During integration, TVWD will replace the majority of its water, which as been historically purchased from the Portland Water Bureau, with water from the new Willamette Water Supply. Because the two water supplies undergo different treatment processes, this transition may temporarily affect the taste, smell, or color of your water. A majority of these changes to your water are expected to last up to two weeks. Additionally, your home’s plumbing may take up to six months to fully stabilize as it adjusts to the characteristics of the new water source.

During integration, your home may experience temporary changes to your water’s taste, smell, or color as the new water replaces the water TVWD has historically served. These changes are temporary and will settle out after approximately two weeks with the new water supply. These changes are largely due to two factors: a different type of drinking water disinfectant and different water treatment and filtering processes between the Portland water and new Willamette Water Supply. 

Temporary Changes

• Slight changes in taste or odor: The water served to your home could have a different or noticeable, but safe, change in flavor or smell. It might taste or smell slightly different, like chlorine or minerals.
• Cloudy or discolored water: When water sources are mixed, it can cause harmless organic particles to become more visible. You might see a temporary cloudiness or slight discoloration, especially when taps are first turned on.
• Pressure fluctuations: Some customers might experience minor changes in water pressure as the water system adjusts.

Lasting Changes

• Subtle taste differences: Over time, the new water supply may lead to a permanent, but minor, change in the overall taste of your water due to the different water sources being served. This is a natural result of the new supply blend.
• Improved water quality: With more robust and reliable treatment, the overall quality of your drinking water may improve, offering better consistency and safety long-term.

Please note: homes built in the 1970s or older, with original home plumbing, are more likely to experience these changes to their water than newer homes or those with plumbing recently replaced. The higher likelihood of changes in older homes is due to the build up of organic materials inside your home's plumbing and fixtures over time in addition to the types plumbing materials commonly used in older homes.

Organic materials that build up inside older plumbing over time can be released by the change in water characteristics with the new water source. Older plumbing, specifically galvanized pipes, can cause temporary water discoloration in your home when the new water supply enters your home. 

The potential for lead to be released from plumbing joints or fixtures from this era is also possible. This can occur from materials that are no longer allowed per plumbing code but could still be used in homes from the 1980s or older, such as brass containing lead.

Some customers may notice changes in their water’s taste, smell, or color from integration of the new water supply. These changes are largely temporary and due to two factors: a different type of drinking water disinfectant and different water treatment and filtering processes between the Portland water and new Willamette Water Supply. 

Historically, TVWD served its customers from two water sources: water purchased from the Portland Water Bureau which is unfiltered and disinfected with chloramine, and water from its co-ownership in the Joint Water Commission, which is filtered and disinfected with free chlorine. Replacing the Portland water that is unfiltered and disinfected with chloramine can temporarily create changes in your water’s taste, smell, or color for a during integration when the new water source is introduced to the larger TVWD water system as well as your home’s plumbing. 

These two water sources have blended in the TVWD water system historically, at times creating taste, smell, or color changes that are described by some as undesirable, yet this water is safe to drink. 

As TVWD completes the water supply integration, it’s important to know that water from the Willamette Water Supply and Joint Water Commission, the two sources of water for TVWD starting in mid-2026, are both filtered and disinfected by free chlorine. These two water supplies share very similar water characteristics, which allows them to serve your home without any adverse smell, taste, and color when compared to TVWD’s prior blending of water sources.