Talkin' Water

CEO Tom Hickmann, P.E., Willamette Water Supply Program Director Dave Kraska, P.E., and Chief Financial Officer Paul Matthews discussed what services your water rates fund, why rate increases are needed and what is being done to contain costs. Both events featured the same presentation followed by a Q&A.

• Open House 1, August 2, 2023 Video recording
• Open House 2, August 17, 2023 Video Recording
• PowerPoint Presentation

Resources

• 2023 Proposed Water Rates
• Current Residential Water Rates
• Current Commercial Water Rates

Senior Water Quality Inspector Kahlil Howell provided instruction and tips for turning on your irrigation system, setting your irrigation controller, and the importance of backflow prevention and required annual testing.

• Video recording
• PowerPoint Presentation

Resources

• Spring Irrigation Maintenance Checklist
• Outdoor Water Conservation
• Irrigation Maintenance Video
• Backflow Prevention
• Gold Plan Residential Backflow Testing Program
• TVWD Residential Rebates

Joel Cary, Water Resources Division Manager discussed which TVWD service areas are fluoridated, how TVWD fluoridates your water and why TVWD will temporarily pause fluoridation for a few months due to construction on a critical water transmission main. 

• Video recording
• PowerPoint Presentation

Resources

• Fluoridation Changes to Water Service
• Water Quality
• Willamette Water Supply System

You can help prevent frozen pipes and water damage from cold temperatures by taking simple steps at your home now. Pete Boone, Chief Operating Officer and Mike Etienne, Field Customer Service Lead, provide timely tips to help keep your pipes from freezing and what you should do if your pipes freeze or break. 

• Video recording
• PowerPoint Presentation

Resources

• Cold Weather Preparedness
• Shut Off Your Water
• Emergency Preparedness

Chief Executive Officer Tom Hickmann, Willamette Water Supply Director Dave Kraska and Chief Financial Officer Paul Matthews hosted two presentations discussing what your water rates pay for, why we need a rate increase, and what TVWD is doing to keep costs down. Both presentations hosted the same presentation content with different questions and answers at the end.

• Recording of Session 1: August 8 at 6 p.m.
• Recording of Session 2: August 11 at 6 p.m.
• PowerPoint Presentation

Resources

• Rates Proposal
• Financial Plan Update from May 2022, starts on Page 13
• Budget

Learn more about TVWD’s 209th and Farmington facility, an important project as we transition to the Willamette Water Supply System in 2026. Justin Dyke, Outreach and Engagement Coordinator and Andrew Barrett, Senior Project Engineer discussed the site’s future layout, functionality, and upcoming construction impacts. Presented January 19, 2022.

• Presentation Video
• PowerPoint Presentation

Resources

• 209th and Farmington Project Page
• 209th and Farmington Virtual Open House Page
• Willamette Water Supply Program

Are you concerned about how issues like earthquakes, climate change, drought, and pollution may affect your drinking water? Learn more about how we are preparing to keep the water delivered to TVWD customers safe and flowing even after a future Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake. Presented by  Tom Hickmann, Dave Kraska, and Joel Cary October 26, 2021.

• Presentation Video
• PowerPoint Presentation

Resources

• Inside Washington County on the Future of Water Podcast
• Willamette Water Supply System
• TVWD Water Quality
• Willamette Watershed Strategic Plan: Full Document | One Page Summary

Learn more about the available water utility bill assistance programs, how you can sign up for long-term payment arrangements, and other community resources to help you get current on your bill. Presented by  Justin Dyke and Sharie Ashbrook September 16, 2021.

• Presentation Video
• PowerPoint Presentation

Resources

• TVWD's Bill Assistance Programs
• Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program
• Community Action Oregon of Washington County

Using water efficiently helps you and the community by reducing water demand. This session provides tips for watering efficiently while maintaining a beautiful landscape. Learn about TVWD’s water efficiency rebates, the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program, and emerging technologies to help you use water efficiently. Presented by Conservation Technician Steve Carper on May 19, 2021.

• Presentation Video
• PowerPoint Presentation

Resources

• TVWD Rebate Programs
• Regional Water Providers Consortium
• EPA Watersense Program

Watch a visual demonstration of the large diameter pipeline which will be used to bring water from the Willamette River to customers starting in 2026 via ESRI ArcGIS. Flyover views, interactive text and points of interest are enhanced features of the map created using ESRI ArcGIS, one of the leaders in the software mapping industry. Presented by Willamette Water Supply Program Geographic Information Systems Analyst Scott Fortman on March 24, 2021.

• Presentation Video
• PowerPoint Presentation

Resources

• Interactive Mapping Tool
• Willamette Water Supply Program

The Willamette Water Supply Program will provide the region with an additional water supply, which is being constructed to serve the region’s water needs for the future. Learn more about the active construction underway to have the system online by 2026. Presented by Willamette Water Supply Program Construction Manager Andre Tolme on January 28, 2021.

• Presentation Video
• PowerPoint Presentation

Resources

• Willamette Water Supply Program

There are many things you can do to help keep your pipes from freezing during winter, but preparation is the key. Learn from TVWD experts simple steps you can take to your water flowing during freezing weather, and what you should do in case a pipe breaks. Presented by Field Customer Service Lead Mike Etienne on November 4, 2020.

• Presentation Video
• Presentation PowerPoint

Resources

• Cold Weather Preparedness
• Shutting Off Your Water

Learn how TVWD actively manages its finances to keep rates as low as possible. TVWD staff also explained the new regional water supply partnership with the cities of Hillsboro and Beaverton. Constructing this new water supply provides jobs to fuel the recovery of the local economy, and will be available by 2026 when TVWD’s purchased water agreement expires. This additional water supply will provide a reliable and resilient, quality water supply for the region's human, economic, and fire protection needs. Presented by Chief Executive Officer Tom Hickmann, Willamette Water Supply Program Director Dave Kraska, and Chief Financial Officer Paul Matthews on August 25, 2020.

• Presentation Video
• PowerPoint Presentation

Resources

• Rates Webpage
• Current Water Rates: Residential | Commercial
• Willamette Water Supply Program