Description
UPDATES:
- May 2026 Project Update: Crews completed waterproofing the new reservoirs, demolished the original steel reservoir, and installed new pressure-reducing infrastructure near SW Orchid Street and SW Caiden Terrace. Construction of the new pump station and operations building begins in June, along with permanent paving of SW Orchid Street. Learn more.
- Pressure Reducing Valve & Vault Installation Complete on SW Orchid St., Paving Next: New water infrastructure was installed near SW Orchid Street and SW Caiden Terrace to work with the new pump station at the Taylors Ferry's property, helping reduce water pressure north of Orchid Street, protect home plumbing, and reduce strain on the water system. Areas impacted by construction will be permanently repaved in the coming weeks, and customers will be notified before restoration work begins.
Project Overview
A contractor for TVWD will be:
- Demolishing the existing 1 million gallon (MG) and 2.3 MG water reservoirs and former Metzger Water District building.
- Building two new seismically resilient concrete water reservoirs, each with a capacity of 1.75 MG.
- Building a new enclosed water pump station with 1500-gallon per minute pumps and installing a backup power generator.
- Replacing all existing onsite water piping and connecting to offsite water system piping.
- Building a new, seismically resilient operations building with a covered equipment storage area.
- Installing a new stormwater facility.
- Replacing fencing and landscaping.
Water reservoirs store and regulate the flow of large quantities of water. Water pump stations connect to water mains through inlet and outlet pipes and use pumps to boost the pressure of the water to ensure it can flow through the distribution pipes to all consumers.
Project Map
View a map of the worksite and the project's public outreach area.
General Impacts
- Work Hours: Typical work will occur Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Staging: Equipment, tools, and materials will be stored at the current site.
- Large equipment: Front loaders, excavators, compactors, generators, cranes, and dump trucks will be used frequently.
- Vibration: Customers near the site may occasionally experience vibration during demolition (removal) activities. Vibration monitoring will occur as needed at the worksite to ensure safety and compliance with permits issued by Washington County Land Use & Transportation.
- Dust and noise: Customers in the immediate area will experience dust and noise during the project, including:
- Mechanical noise from heavy machinery and equipment.
- Impact noise from breaking and removing concrete and rebar.
- Vehicular noise from trucks transporting materials to and from the construction site.
- Beeping or alarms used by vehicles and machinery for safety purposes.
- Traffic: Trucks will be transporting dirt and concrete from the construction site, as well as delivering materials and equipment, which may cause intermittent delays on roadways near the site. Customers are advised to allow extra travel time.
- Truck Routes: Throughout the life of the project, trucks will be entering and exiting the project site using SW Taylors Ferry Road, as well as the following route: SW 65th Avenue, to SW Brugger Street, to SW 62nd Avenue, to SW Taylors Ferry Road.
- Street Usage: All streets on the truck traffic routes – whether in Washington County or Multnomah County - are considered publicly accessible. This applies even if a street is designated by the City of Portland as an unmaintained street, in accordance with Portland City Code Chapter 17.42.
- Street Monitoring and Repairs: Before construction began, the contractor recorded video documentation of all streets along these truck traffic routes. This was done to establish the current condition of the streets. The contractor has committed to making any necessary repairs if the streets are damaged during the project.
- Parking: Construction crews will park their personal vehicles on public streets in the surrounding neighborhood, following all city parking regulations.
- Planned Water Service Interruptions: Customer's water service may intermittently be shut off for several hours to complete portions of the project. Customers will be notified with a front door notice at least 48 hours in advance of any planned water service shut off.
- Responsive Staff: A TVWD inspector will be present on-site during most workdays/hours, and there will also be a dedicated TVWD communicator and project engineer available to assist customers with project questions or concerns.
- Drone Surveys: During the project, a drone will be flown to capture high-resolution images and videos of construction progress.
Construction Process
- October 2024: Project begins
- Fall 2024: Demolish and remove existing Reservoir 1 and former Metzger Water District building.
- Spring 2025 - Summer 2026: Build new reservoirs 1 and 2, followed by piping, new pump station, and backup generator.
- Spring 2026: Demolish existing Reservoir 2.
- Spring 2026 - Fall 2026: Build new operations and equipment storage building.
- Fall 2026: Construct stormwater facility and replace existing fencing and landscaping.
- November 2026: Scheduled project completion
Project Benefits
The project will improve the water system in this area:
- Enhance Resilience: Building strong water infrastructure that can withstand emergencies, including potential seismic events, helps TVWD keep the water system running after these events. This means fewer service interruptions and a more reliable water supply for customers.
- New Water System: In 2026, the new Taylors Ferry facilities will begin receiving water from the new Willamette Water Supply System and allow TVWD to directly serve all of its customers with the same water source.
- Water Pressure: The new pump station and reservoirs will help maintain consistent water pressure for the more than 3,820 customers in the area.
Keep in Touch
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