Tigard and Lake Oswego Seal the Deal on Water Partnership
Starting in 2016, water originating from the Clackamas River will begin pouring out of Tigard water customers' taps. At a signing ceremony on August 6, 2008, Tigard Mayor Craig Dirksen and Lake Oswego Mayor Judie Hammerstad officially signed off on a long-awaited water partnership agreement between the two cities.
In his opening remarks, Mayor Dirksen said that Tigard's quest for ownership in a water source had spanned more than 17 years. He described the ability of the two municipalities to cooperate and agree to share water rights as "momentous."
Mayor Hammerstad said, "We [Tigard and Lake Oswego] truly walk hand-in-hand for the next 100 years for our citizens... I am very proud that we can leave that as our legacy."
August 6, 2008 Tigard Mayor Craig Dirksen and Lake Oswego Mayor Judie Hammerstad sign a long-awaited water partnership agreement.
The City of Tigard and Lake Oswego have entered into a water partnership
agreement to jointly:
Expand Lake Oswego's water treatment facility.
Replace the existing river intake.
Construct a reservoir.
Upsize transmission lines.
Develop existing water rights and permits on the Clackamas River.
The improvements would allow Tigard and Lake Oswego to produce up to 38 million
gallons of water per day. Of this amount, Tigard would receive between 14 and 20
million gallons per day.
Click to view:
The "Water Partnership Agreement" formally known as the Intergovernmental
Agreement Regarding Water Supply Facilities, Design, Construction, and Operation
The water partnership agreement is scheduled to be considered by both the
Tigard City Council and the Lake Oswego City Council on August 5, 2008.
Benefits of the Tigard and Lake Oswego water partnership
Quantity - Depending upon future water demand, this source,
along with Tigard's groundwater and aquifer storage and recovery wells,
is expected to produce enough water to meet the needs of Tigard water customers
from the year 2016 to approximately 2035.
Quality, Taste and Appearance - Under the water partnership
agreement, Lake Oswego's existing water treatment plant will be transformed
to a state-of-the-art facility. The new facility will:
employ the latest water treatment technologies.
provide greater control over water quality.
be better equipped to address future testing/treatment requirements and
issues related to aesthetics, such as taste and appearance.
The Clackamas River is an excellent raw water source and has a 100-year history
of supplying water to an ever-increasing population. This source, when
coupled with a state-of-the-art water treatment facility,
will provide Tigard water customers with a reliable, high-quality water supply for
years to come.
Cost and Rates - Developing a new water source will be costly. The projects
associated with the water partnership are estimated to cost $136 million.
Tigard's share of the improvements and cost to buy into Lake Oswego's existing
system is estimated to be $81 million. Although expensive, the Lake Oswego
water partnership is the least expensive option of all those considered.
By developing our own infrastructure (treatment plant, transmission pipes,
intake, etc.), a portion of the project costs can be collected from future
development. Although this will help to offset steep increases in water rates,
Tigard water customers can expect rates to nearly double over the next ten years as
improvements are brought online. Following the initial ten-year investment,
water rates are expected to stabilize or even decrease slightly. In comparison,
if Tigard simply continued to purchase water via the Portland Water Purchase
Agreement, water customers could expect to see their water rates triple over
the same time period.
Why do we need more water?
The Tigard Water Service Area (TWSA) includes the cities of Durham, King City, two-thirds
of Tigard and unincorporated areas to the south and west of Tigard. The City of Tigard
is the water provider for the TWSA and entities within this partnership are represented
by the Intergovernmental Water Board.
The TWSA's peak water demand can reach 13 million gallons a day, but as the population
continues to increase, that number is expected to reach 20 million gallons a day by the
year 2040. Currently, the service area receives its water from several sources, but
these sources aren't capable of meeting the growing demand for water.
Tigard water customers excel at water conservation; over the past year, water customers have
actually decreased their water consumption from 88 to 84 gallons per person per day.
But as the area's population continues to grow, future water demand will be too
great to simply conserve our way out of the problem.
What options were considered?
The City of Tigard and Intergovernmental Water Board
partners Durham, King City and the Tigard Water District have studied these
potential drinking water sources:
Lake Oswego Expansion & Water Partnership
Water Source: Clackamas River
Tualatin Basin Water Supply Project (Also known as the Hagg Lake Dam raise project)
Water Source: Trask and Tualatin Rivers
Willamette River Treatment & Transmission Improvement Project
Water Source: Willamette River
Purchase City of Portland Water
Water Source: Bull Run Watershed
Of these options, the Lake Oswego Expansion & Water Partnership appears to
hold the most promise of supplying the majority of our future water needs.
How did the water partnership agreement come about?
September 2005
The Cities of Tigard and Lake Oswego completed the Water Supply Feasibility
Project study. This study concluded that it would be possible for Lake Oswego
and Tigard to jointly develop Lake Oswego's capital infrastructure and
remaining water rights. Both parties would benefit from such a partnership.
Tigard would establish ownership in a future water source; Lake Oswego
would protect its water rights and reduce costs since Tigard would fund a
portion of the improvements.
March 2006
The Cities of Tigard and Lake Oswego funded the Joint Water Supply System Analysis.
This plan investigated the technical, financial and legal issues influencing
the potential partnership. Ultimately, the plan concluded Tigard and Lake
Oswego would each benefit from jointly expanding the Lake Oswego water system.
November 2006
The Cities of Tigard and Lake Oswego and the Intergovernmental Water Board held a joint
meeting to have a preliminary discussion of the water partnership and provide input
on the Joint Water Supply System Analysis.
July 2007
The Cities of Tigard and Lake Oswego and the Intergovernmental Water Board
held a joint meeting to receive the preliminary results of the Joint Water
Supply System Analysis. Based on the analysis, these agencies recognized
the potential advantages of the water partnership. Representatives from each
of the parties formed a work group to further explore the water partnership.
December 2007
The Cities of Tigard and Lake Oswego and the Intergovernmental Water Board entered
into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) developed by the work group. The MOU:
Committed the parties to work cooperatively, through staff, to develop an agreement detailing the terms of a water supply partnership.
Identified specific issues for discussion.
Committed to a mutually agreeable recommendation by June 2008.
Pledged mutual support of Lake Oswego's efforts to secure extensions of its water rights.
April 2008
The Cities of Tigard and Lake Oswego and the Intergovernmental Water Board held a joint meeting to discuss the major points of the water partnership agreement.
May 2008
The City of Tigard held an open house to educate and seek the input of Tigard water customers.
July 2008
The Intergovernmental Water Board held a public hearing and unanimously adopted
a resolution recommending the City of Tigard approve the water partnership
agreement.
Click to view:
"Water Partnership Agreement" formally known as the Intergovernmental
Agreement Regarding Water Supply Facilities, Design, Construction, and Operation
August 2008
The Cities of Tigard and Lake Oswego are scheduled to consider the water partnership agreement on August 5, 2008.
Click to view:
"Water Partnership Agreement" formally known as the Intergovernmental
Agreement Regarding Water Supply Facilities, Design, Construction, and Operation
"Water Partnership Agreement" formally known as the Intergovernmental
Agreement Regarding Water Supply Facilities, Design, Construction, and Operation
Future Water Sources:
As the water provider for the Tigard Water Service Area
(TWSA), the City of Tigard has created a 10-minute video
presentation on future water sources.
This educational video discusses the TWSA’s projected water demand, the process
for identifying future water sources, the pros and cons of these sources,
and how water customers can get involved.
Starting in 2016, water originating from the Clackamas River will begin pouring out of Tigard water customers' taps. At a signing ceremony on August 6, 2008, Tigard Mayor Craig Dirksen and Lake Oswego Mayor Judie Hammerstad officially signed off on a long-awaited water partnership agreement between the two cities. 