The Portland Water Bureau is rebuilding the Washington Park reservoirs, a project that continues through 2024. Washington Park reservoirs have been in service since 1894. When completed, this project will supply water to Portland’s west side and serve more than 360,000 people, including all downtown businesses and residents, 20 schools, five hospital complexes, and more than 60 parks. This system of water conveyance and storage makes Portland a livable, and thriving community, ensuring public health and economic viability. 

We are building a new 12.4-million gallon, seismically reinforced below ground reservoir, within the footprint of the existing Reservoir 3 (upper) with a reflection pool/water feature on top. While retaining the historic look and feel of the original reservoir, it has been engineered to withstand ongoing landside encroachment and potentially catastrophic effects of a major earthquake.

The existing Reservoir 4 (lower) is disconnected from the public drinking water system and is being developed into a lowland wildlife habitat area, bioswale, and reflection pool.

To view a rendering of the completed projected click HERE.

The project is part of the Water Bureau’s Capital Improvement Program and funded by revenue bond proceeds paid back with utility ratepayers’ fund.

Comprehensive Schedule

Construction started Sept.12, 2016 and will proceed through 2020. A pause is scheduled to occur from 2020 to 2022 to allow soils to settle. From 2023 to 2025, construction of interpretive features, including the reflecting pool and surface features, will conclude the project. For a schedule of current activities see HERE.

Background

In order to comply with federal and state mandates and ensure a healthy, resilient, and secure water system, the Portland Water Bureau and Oregon general contractor Hoffman Construction Company began, in September 2016, an eight-year capital improvement project to update the Washington Park reservoir site at 2403 SW Jefferson Street.

Washington Park’s previously open Reservoirs 3 (upper) and 4 (lower) occupied the site along with two gate houses, a weir building, three pump houses, a generator house, and associated underground piping. The reservoirs were part of an ingenious gravity‐fed drinking water system constructed more than 120 years ago in 1893 and 1894, respectively. The system remained on-line for more than a hundred years before the current construction project began.

Left - Pre-existing: Reservoir 3 from the Grand Stairway
Right - New Construction: Upper Reflecting Pool from the Grand Stairway

 Left - Pre-existing: Reservoir 3 with Gate House 3
Right - New Construction: Upper Reflecting Pool at Gate House 3

The Washington Park Reservoir Improvements Project entails building a new, seismically reinforced underground reservoir. The reservoir will not only maintain the historic drinking water function provided by the original reservoirs, but will be engineered to withstand ongoing landslide encroachment and potentially catastrophic effects of a major earthquake and will feature a reflecting pool on top in the same general footprint as the historical Reservoir 3.

 Left - Pre-existing: Reservoir 4 View from Dam 3
Right - New Construction: Lower Reflecting Pool View from Dam 3

 Left - Pre-existing: Reservoir 4 View from Above at SW Sherwood Blvd
Right - New Construction: Lower Reflecting Pool View from SW Sherwood Blvd

Reservoir 4 has been disconnected from the public drinking water system, and a lowland habitat area/bioswale and a reflecting pool will be constructed in the basin. Work will primarily be within the Historic District.

More information is available via our Frequently Asked Questions page.