March 2011 Water Conservation QuarterlyGeneral Information: 503-635-0270
Water Conservation Information: 503-675-3747
380 A Avenue, PO Box 369
Lake Oswego, Oregon 970344
Lake Oswego and Tigard City Councils Adopt
Water Facility Plan
For more information about the Lake Oswego Tigard Water Partnership, please visit lotigardwater.org
Saving money for ratepayers over the long term,
ensuring a reliable future water supply, and fixing
Lake Oswego's worn out and undersized facilities are
just some of the benefits Lake Oswego and Tigard City
Councils discussed as they adopted plans in
December for water supply improvements. Now, final
facilities design begins.
Key improvements to be constructed by July 2016
include:
• 14,000 feet of new piping to convey untreated
water.
• Expanding the water treatment plant in West Linn
to 32 mgd, with room to economically expand to
38 mgd. Conventional filtration plus ozone
treatment will be added to address contaminants
and taste and odor issues.
• 35,000 feet of new treated water pipelines.
• Building a new reservoir in Lake Oswego.
• Replacing Tigard’s Bonita pump station with a
new, larger facility.
The Partnership is also good business. Lake Oswego
and Tigard customers will save millions of dollars more
than if each pursued improvements alone or with a
different partner. While initial improvements are
costly, the investment in infrastructure will last
generations. Much as past generations invested in a
water supply system that benefited the community
since 1968, proposed improvements, combined with
an aggressive conservation program, ensure an
adequate future water supply.
Craig Dirksen, Mayor of Tigard, said, “The water CIP is
the long awaited roadmap for Tigard to ensure clean,
great tasting water, emergency water storage, and fire
protection that our residents demand—and all for less
than a penny a gallon.”
The Partnership is already working with facility
neighbors in Tigard, Lake Oswego, West Linn, and
Gladstone to ensure their interests are reflected in
design, construction, and operations of new facilities.
The cities of Tigard and Lake Oswego are committed
to water conservation, which benefits the
environment by keeping more water in the Clackamas
River and reducing operations and capital costs.
The two communities’ approach to sharing water makes
them unique. According to Dwight French, Oregon
Water Resources Department, “You need people to
cooperate with each other and look to the future, which
is exactly what Lake Oswego and Tigard are doing. We
really appreciate their coming together and setting an
example for other communities.”
“This is truly a milestone for Lake
Oswego and the Partnership,”
said Lake Oswego Mayor, Jack
Hoffman. “For Lake Oswego it
ensures that our worn out,
undersized system gets the
attention it needs, and an
adequate supply of water for the
foreseeable future, at a much
more reasonable cost than if we
had to go it alone.”
Let’s Talk Water
Kevin McCaleb, Water Conservation Coordinator
In three years as your water
conservation professional, I’ve
observed a shift in how Lake Oswego
citizens view water use.
I encounter people with a range of
perspectives, from folks who see no
need for conservation, to
others who support strong
mandates for reduced
water use. The majority
of people I interact
with every day
recognize that our
water system needs
improvement. They
understand that they need
to be better stewards of their
water to minimize the long-term effects
on our watershed and the fish and
wildlife that live there, and to ensure
the availability of high quality water for
Lake Oswego residents long into the
future. Most accept that their water
usage habits play a part in the current
situation. They want to do the right
thing—they are just not sure how to do
it. This is where the City and I can help.
The City offers resources to help Lake
Oswego customers conserve water.
Most of them are free or available for a
nominal fee. Residents who have taken
advantage of these tools have reduced
their water use by 7% on average.
On the third floor of City Hall, you can
pick up some of the free low flow
attachments for your sinks and
showers, or get a rain sensor, soil
moisture probe, or hose timer.
Starting this year, the City will offer a
$75 washing machine rebate
on qualifying models.
Together with existing
incentives from the State
of Oregon1 and the
Energy Trust of Oregon2,
participants can receive
up to $355 in savings on
the purchase of a new high
efficiency clothes washer. Go
to lowaterconservation.com to
take advantage of these water and
money saving tools.
Free water audits begin May 1st and
scheduling one is as easy as calling me
at 503-675-3747. Find out how you can
save more water at your home or
business.
Visit our conservation kiosk on the first
floor of City Hall. Booklets and brochures
offer information on a range of topics
including rainwater collection,
commercial property water
management, irrigation, landscaping,
and more. There are also activity books
and stickers for kids. Look for upcoming
classes on irrigation system
maintenance and landscape watering
how-to and lawn maintenance (see
page 2).
Those who have taken advantage of
the City’s conservation resources can
attest that they do make a difference.
We will offer new amenities in addition
to these when we can to help reduce
your water costs. The suite of incentives
and services is growing and the City
will continue to work hard to create a
sustainable balance between what we
need as a community and what is
needed for the Clackamas River to
remain a vital life-supporting, healthy
source of water for this region.
To stay informed about new programs
and area water issues, visit
lowaterconservation.com.
We’ve come a long way, but there is
more we can do and must do. Keep up
the good work and let me know how I
can help.
Take good care,
Kevin McCaleb
503-675-3747
kmccaleb@ci.oswego.or.us
www.lowaterconservation.com
March 2011March 2011March 2011
1Oregon State Tax Credits: www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/RES
2Energy Trust of Oregon Incentives: energytrust.org/residential/incentives/Appliances
Residents
who have taken
advantage of these
tools have reduced
their water use by
7% on average.
Water Conservation Summary: 2008 – 2010Sign Up for Irrigation Classes Conserving Water
in Ponds and Pools
Annual Average Water Savings per Residential Account: 31.5 CCF
That’s one entire average water bill worth of savings!
(The average single-family home uses 20 CCF of water over two months.)
Annual Average Water Savings per Commercial Account: 79.5 CCF
Total Number of Products Distributed:
Faucet Aerators: 1,516 / Showerheads: 746 / Rain Sensors: 145
High Efficiency and Ultra Low Flow Toilets: 500 (That’s a stack of toilets ½ mile high!)
Water Audits Performed:
Residential: 149 (That’s less than 1/10th of 1%)
Commercial: 7
Join us for one of three upcoming trainings to learn how to efficiently
maintain your beautiful lawn and garden while conserving water and
saving money. Topics include:
Conservation for landscaping and irrigation.
Irrigation system tune-up, maintenance and programming for
residential customers.
Water saving tips and strategies to help you save money.
All sessions will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Lake Oswego
City Hall, 380 A Avenue on April 30, 2011 • May 21, 2011 • June 1, 2011
Light lunch, beverages, and snacks will be provided. Seating is limited
to twenty five attendees, so register now. The cost is $10.00 and
payment must be received no later than 2 weeks prior to the event to
assure seating. Call 503-675-3747 to register with a credit card, register
at the reception desk on the third floor of City Hall at 380 A Avenue, or
mail a check/money order to:
Lake Oswego Water Conservation Program
P.O. Box 369 · Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Refunds will be allowed until two weeks before the class.
Conservation Program Participants in 2011
Total Water Saved:
25,108 CCF or
18,781,000 gallons
Residential
796
Total Water Saved:
5009 CCF or
3,747,000 gallons
Commercial
93
The water saved would fill 750 tanker train cars—that’s a train over 8 ½ miles long!
Imagine the savings if even 1% of households took advantage of audits and
products! To join in the savings today, contact Kevin McCaleb at
kmccaleb@ci.oswego.or.us or visit city hall to find out more.
Water evaporation from uncovered
pools and ponds in Lake Oswego can
exceed 3 inches of water per week
during the summer. If left uncovered
during the pool season, a residential
pool 15 feet wide by 20 feet long by 5
feet deep can lose over 10,000 gallons
to evaporation. This water loss is
costly, but also doesn't account for
the cost of additional chemicals and
maintenance that will be required to
treat water that will evaporate.
What's the solution? Using a pool
cover will cut water loss by 90%. There
are many types of covers available, so
do some research and start saving
water and money this season.
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