April 27, 2015

A new reservoir at Kelly Butte in Southeast Portland is now serving pristine Bull Run water to customers across our community. 

For 43 years, a 10 million gallon above-ground tank stored water at Kelly Butte. In 2012, the Portland Water Bureau began work on a new, larger reservoir to serve Portland’s growing population.

The new reservoir includes two underground cells that hold 25 million gallons of water. Bull Run water fills the Kelly Butte reservoir, which then serves East Portland businesses and families. The reservoir also serves as a  water stopover for reservoirs and storage tanks in Southwest Portland.

The storage tanks are now underground, so they have disappeared from view. Crews will continue working this year to construct access roads and fences, and to complete landscaping – including  planting more than 1,660 trees and 7,250 scrubs across the entire site. 

Check out the Water Bureau’s website for more information.

Portland's new Kelly Butte Reservoir is open, funneling water to city taps

Andrew Theen in The Oregonian

Portland Water Bureau Shows Off New Reservoirs

Kristian Foden-Vencil in OPB