Skip sidebar navigation
Environmental Services

Future Water Supply

Our Water. Our Future.

Gresham and Rockwood will begin moving to groundwater in fall 2025

Our groundwater comes from the deep, naturally protected sand and gravel aquifer. It's a year-round source of safe, reliable, high-quality drinking water used by Rockwood, Gresham and other local communities.

Water system expanding

In late fall 2025, Gresham and Rockwood will start delivering groundwater from the new Cascade Groundwater Alliance facilities with the goal of 100% groundwater by June 2026. These earthquake-resilient facilities will deliver 25 million gallons of safe, high-quality water a day for our community. Some customers may notice slight differences in their water initially.

Water at the tap will be 100% groundwater in June 2026.

Your water will be continually tested and monitored before, during and after the transition and will continue to be safe to drink all day, every day

Benefits to you

  • High-quality, safe groundwater year-round.
  • Locally owned, controlled and operated for customers in East Multnomah County.
  • Shared ownership, costs and resources mean long-term stable and predictable costs for Gresham and Rockwood customers.
  • Modern water treatment facilities with capacity to expand builds resilience and prepares us for current and future water needs.

Groundwater system improvement projects

Current projects

Cascade Well 9: Kirk Park

The City began drilling a new well in 2019. The Kirk Park well can pump up to 4 million gallons of water per day. Work at this site includes:

  • Drilling a new groundwater well.
  • Building a well pump house.
  • Installing a new water pipeline that will connect to the Rockwood District Offices.

Project schedule

  • 2019 - Spring 2026
  • Work hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

What to expect

  • Large equipment and materials.
  • Noise, dust, gravel and vibration near construction site.

Contact

Cameron Lee, 503-618-2525

Contractor

Rotschy, Inc.

Treatment Plant and Pump Station: Rockwood District Office

Rockwood Water is building:

  • New water treatment facility.
  • Storage building.
  • Backwash tank and salt storage tank.
  • Pump station.

Project schedule

Spring 2024 – Fall 2025

Contact

Jeremy Hudson, 503-665-4179

Completed projects

Cascade Reservoir 1 and 2: Rockwood District Office

Rockwood Water has upgraded one existing reservoir and built a new reservoir.

  • Cascade reservoir 1: construction completed 2024.
  • Cascade reservoir 2: construction completed in 2023.
Cascade Well 6: 223rd Avenue

The City is drilling a new groundwater well at SE 223rd Avenue off SE Stark Street. 

  • Schedule: Summer 2022 - Winter 2024 
  • Work hours:  Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

What to expect

  • Large equipment and materials.
  • The work site will be fenced and secured.
  • Noise, dust, gravel and vibration near construction site.

Contact

 Cameron Lee, Project Manager, 503-618-2525

Contractor

Schneider Water Services

Cascade Well 7: 202nd and Glisan Street

Cascade Well 7 is one of five groundwater wells developed through this partnership. It is a key element of the first project completed to expand the groundwater system to ensure customers have a safe, reliable and abundant water supply.

Cascade Well 7 construction was completed in 2024.

Cascade Well 8: 141st Avenue

Rockwood Water is:

  • Replacing a 60-year-old reservoir.
  • Adding a pump to the onsite well.
  • Building a water treatment plant and backwash tank.

Project schedule

  • Fall 2024 - Spring 2026
  • Work hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

What to expect

  • Large equipment and materials.
  • Noise, dust, gravel and vibration near construction site.

Contact

Jeremy Hudson, 503-665-4179

Cascade Well 10: North Gresham Elementary

The City is drilling a new groundwater well near North Gresham Elementary School.

Project schedule

  • Spring 2024 - Summer 2025
  • Work hours: 7:00 am-6:00 pm, Monday-Friday

What to expect

  • Noise.
  • Vibration near the construction site. 
  • Gravel and dust.
  • Large drilling equipment and other materials. 

Contractor

 Schneider Water Services

Contact

Cameron Lee, Project Manager, at 503-618-2525.

Columbia South Shore Pipeline: Sandy Boulevard

The City is installing a new waterline along Sandy Boulevard from Airport Way to the Gresham city limits.

Project schedule

  • November 2024 - March 2025
  • Work hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

What to expect

  • Limited to no street parking.
  • Lane closure.
  • Driveway access will be provided.
  • Night work at intersection only.
  • Limits to utility use only during water service changes, contractor will notify.

Contact

Wendy Andaya, Project Manager or Michael Lutter, Inspector, at 503-618-2525.

 Contractor

Tapani, Inc.

Groundwater Transmission Main: Rockwood District Office to Grant Butte

The City is constructing a pipeline that runs from Grant Butte to the terminal storage at Rockwood Public Utility district office.

Project schedule

  • Spring 2023 – Fall 2024
  • Work hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

What to expect

  • Limited to no street parking.
  • Lane closure or full street closure, contractor provides notification.
  • Limited driveway access.
  • Detour to bus route. Check TriMet.

Contact

Jason Branstetter, Project Manager, at 503-618-2525.