 August 2023
Hi, I’m Ashley Cissna with the EWEB Communications Team.
Happy August! This month, we're taking a look at Resiliency. Our lead story examines the need for infrastructure updates. Other stories dig into EWEB's new, official resiliency policy, grid technology, source protection, and water conservation.
EWEB's Board of Commissioners is also focusing on resiliency this week, with a presentation on hydropower and wildlife issues. We also have a representative from Sacramento Municipal Utility District diving into their energy efficiency programs for renters. Plus, we’ve got another quiz question for you!
We hope you enjoy this month's newsletter, and please let us know what you think. Email us at publicaffairs@eweb.org.
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We are the people in your neighborhood!
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EWEB’s Laura Farthing is the senior engineer and project manager for Eugene’s new water storage tanks near E. 40th Ave. The tanks are 212 feet in diameter, 35 feet deep, and will hold 7.5 million gallons of drinking water each. Here, Laura stands inside one of the newly constructed tanks, a last opportunity to glimpse the inside before it is filled with drinking water.
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Trivia time!
Why is the number 607 significant to your drinking water?
A: It’s the number of water tanks in Eugene.
B: It’s the number of feet above sea level at which Eugene’s gravity fed water system operates.
C: It’s the length of all of Eugene’s water pipes end-to-end.
D: It’s the number of drinking water samples collected each month
You can find the answer in one of the articles linked in today’s newsletter, or by reading to the end!
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What's happening at your community-owned utility?
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Your tap water costs about a penny a gallon, but there’s a lot more to your water bill than just water
From the McKenzie River to your faucet, Eugene’s water infrastructure is a complex system of components that pump, divert, treat, transport, store, and deliver safe drinking water. Many of those components were built or installed 70+ years ago and have reached the end of their useful lives.
Aging water infrastructure can cause leaks, breaks, low water pressure, and water quality issues. At the same time, natural disasters, drought, and wildfires are significant threats to our community’s drinking water systems.
That’s why, over the next 10 years, EWEB will invest more than $340 million on several infrastructure improvement projects across the community. In addition to programs aimed at protecting water at the source, we are renovating the Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant, replacing water mains, replacing storage tanks, improving water pump stations, and developing neighborhood emergency water stations.
Projects like these generate millions of dollars in economic impact, create hundreds of jobs, and allow Eugene residents to continue enjoying safe and reliable water service.
Read about some of the ways your rates are being used to ensure safe, reliable water continues to flow in our community here.
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EWEB establishes multipronged resiliency policy
Disaster strikes. What happens next? Whether or not EWEB can recover depends on our level of resiliency – and the community’s.
Resiliency is the ability to recover from a disaster, as well as reduce the likelihood, magnitude and duration of both sudden and gradual disruptions. In recent months, EWEB has been developing a resiliency policy to formalize EWEB’s utility-wide commitment to emphasize long-term values that help us prepare for and recover from disasters. Learn more.
EWEB's Board of Commissioners will discuss and potentially approve the policy at their meeting Aug. 1.
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 Substations - the resilient spine of EWEB's electric grid
Thirty-eight substations, often called EWEB's "resilient spine," connect the utility's electric grid. The redundancy of substations in the system ensures reliable power flows to homes and businesses despite unexpected equipment failures and routine maintenance. Learn about the unique design of the system and what we're doing to maintain it.
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 A more resilient watershed, naturally
EWEB, McKenzie River Trust, McKenzie Watershed Council, and Willamette National Forest are restoring natural floodplain ecosystems to make the McKenzie River more resilient to climate change. Watch this video to learn more.
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 Water conservation tips for a drought-stricken Lane County
Yes, it is hot enough for you. After Earth’s hottest June on record, we’re on pace for our hottest July, too. In Lane County, our previous 30 days have been four to eight degrees Fahrenheit hotter than our 30-year average.
Add to that our lack of precipitation and it’s a simple equation: we are yet again in a drought.
Although the current drought conditions are concerning for a variety of reasons, we don’t foresee any significant impacts to EWEB customers in terms of voluntary or mandatory restrictions to reduce water demand, primarily due to the unique geology of the McKenzie River, which is supplied largely by underground aquifers.
We know many community members are interested in water conservation and we share your concern for protecting this vital resource. Please check out our website for information about:
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More News from EWEB
EWEB charts energy supply choices for next 2-3 years
After 18 months of study to assess Eugene’s future electricity needs, EWEB has identified next steps to pursue in the next two to three years. The next steps identified in the IRP largely focus on conducting additional studies and preparing for more in-depth analysis of regional trends that will shape how EWEB procures and delivers electricity to our customers.
Trends that are impacting your utility rates
Needed infrastructure investments and rising costs of operations will require increases in the price of water and electric services.
Women in Stem: Meet the water quality specialist who ensures the safety of Eugene's drinking water
Brenda Casarez began working at EWEB in 2009, collecting samples from all over the water system testing for different contaminants.
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Board of Commissioners meetings and topics
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The Eugene Water & Electric Board is owned by our customers, who elect a five-member Board of Commissioners. The agenda for the August 1 public meeting includes:
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A presentation by the Executive Director of Northwest RiverPartners about hydropower fish and wildlife issues
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A presentation about energy efficiency programs for renters at Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
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An update on EWEB’s planning to decommission the Leaburg hydroelectric project
You can view the full agenda for the August 1 meeting here. You can also learn how to watch online, attend in-person and provide public comments.
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Emergency Water Station demonstration
Prairie Mountain School
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Bethel area residents: Bring the family to the Prairie Mountain School (5305 Royal Ave.) on Saturday, August 26 - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to learn about EWEB's emergency water station in your neighborhood. While you’re there, pick up a complimentary 3-gallon water storage container (while supplies last) and practice filling it up at the station. This is a great step on your home and family preparedness journey.
You'll learn about:
- How to use the water station
- Scenarios in which the station would be activated
- Details about the water well
- How to treat the emergency water to make it safe for drinking
- EWEB's Pledge to Prepare campaign
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Peak and Off Peak Power Usage!
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When we talk about conserving energy and water, we often focus on how we are using these resources, but not when. You may be surprised to learn that you can make a few easy changes in your regular routines that help to mitigate climate change, assist EWEB in avoiding or delaying costly infrastructure investments and reduce expensive wholesale electricity purchases at peak energy use times.
Shift your energy use to “off peak” hours. This can be as simple as running the dishwasher, charging your electronic vehicle or doing the laundry during off peak hours.
Off peak hours vary by season. In the summer months (May to October) off peak hours are between 8 p.m. and 12 p.m. Avoid doing chores or tasks that require more electricity between 12-8. Learn more about peak power at eweb.org.
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Preparing for emergencies
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Events like wildfire, earthquake or even a really bad winter storm can impact the electric and water systems and other public services we all rely on. In a severe emergency, some services could be disrupted for weeks or even months.
Preparedness is a shared responsibility. We're making investments to prepare, replace and maintain our community's electric and water systems. You can do your part by following the Oregon Office of Emergency Management's recommendation to build a kit and make a plan so you can be without public services for two weeks.
Emergency Prepa redness Tip: Emergency Water Storage
Following a disaster, clean drinking water may not be available. Experts recommend that residents of the Pacific Northwest store 14 gallons of water per person in your household (enough for two weeks).
Here are some water storage and treatment tips:
- Store water in a number of different locations such as under the sink, in the garage, a storage shed, or closet. Check out our video for tips on storing water when you don't have a lot of space.
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Purchase bottled water from the store, or buy and fill your own containers.
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It's safe to store water in cleaned and disinfected soda bottles, but do not use milk or juice containers for water storage.
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Learn how to clean and prepare water storage containers.
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Know how to treat water if necessary. Both the EPA & CDC recommend boiling or chlorinating "suspicious" water before use.
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Y our monthly Pledge to Prepare Checklist
Pledge to Prepare is a 12-month blueprint to get you and your household two-weeks-ready in case of large emergency outage.
In the event of a major disaster, it is important to have a supply of food and water on hand, but it is also important to have a handful of basic tools readily available. Tools can help with survival, building an escape, search and rescue and more. We focus on non-powered, portable tools, as these tend to be most versatile and reliable in an emergency. However, power tools such as chainsaws and generators may be very helpful to have on hand as well.
Some must-have tools include: a pry bar, compact shovel, multi-tool, hatchet, saw, zip ties, and for customers with natural gas, a gas shut-off wrench.
Download the full August Checklist for additional tips. You can also share a photo of your progress to be entered to win the monthly raffle.
Join Pledge to Prepare
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A healthy workplace, competitive pay and comprehensive benefits make EWEB a great place to work. We're looking for talented people to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to our team.
Featured Job: Engineering Technician III-IV
The successful candidate will work in a team environment to perform both technical office and field tasks to support the design, construction, and maintenance of electric distribution systems and facilities.
Check out this and other job openings.
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Here at EWEB, we are committed to delivering safe and reliable power to our customers every day. However, unplanned power outages can occur. A major event such as a severe winter storm, earthquake or wildfire could disrupt utility services for an extended period of time.
EWEB offers loans to help you increase your safety and resiliency in a power outage with backup generators and other backup power options, including battery storage systems. Zero percent interest loans are available for up to $4,000 for residential customers (restrictions apply). Commercial customers may qualify for a four percent interest loan, with the loan amount based on project details.
Reach out to our energy experts today to learn more about program requirements. We recommend you work with a licensed electrician to perform the installation and help you determine what type and size backup power system is right for you.
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Attention Renters and Landlords!
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Are you a current renter or rental property owner? The Oregon Department of Energy recently began accepting applications for the Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program (ORHHPP). This program offers rebates for the installation of ducted and ductless heat pumps in rental and manufactured dwellings. Rebate amounts vary based on income and efficiency of the installed heat pump.
Rebates are paid to the ODOE approved contractor that installs the heat pump and they pass the savings on to you by taking the amount off the total cost of the invoice after installation.
How to get started:
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Talk to your landlord about the program and get their approval
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Have your landlord reach out to an ODOE approved contractor to begin the ORHHPP rebate process
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Submit an EWEB program application to ensure the heat pump system also qualifies for an EWEB rebate
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Featured Social Media Post!
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EWEB linemen competed at the PNW Lineman Rodeo in Gresham on July 22. Proceeds from the event are donated to the Oregon Burn Center. Teams from utilities in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, and Utah tested their skills and competed in five events: cutout installation, high line jumper replacement, hurt-man rescue, pole climb and pole transfer. GO TEAM EWEB!
See the full post here and follow us @EWEButility.
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Additional utility related news
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Deep dives for fellow utility nerds :-)
Energy Northwest, X-energy sign joint development agreement for up to 12 small modular reactors
Ensuring reliable electricity to heat homes on the coldest days of the year takes on-demand energy with a long-lasting fuel supply. To bolster that reliability in a zero-carbon future, Energy Northwest, which operates the region’s only nuclear power plant, has signed an agreement to develop more nuclear capacity using small modular nuclear reactors. Read more at Utility Dive.
Would an occasional blackout help solve climate change?
Among utilities and power grid managers, voluntarily allowing blackouts is heretical. Keeping electricity reliable is the top priority. But a journalist from California – which narrowly avoided rolling blackouts in 2021 only by begging customers to cut back electricity use – asks if sacrificing some reliability could help solve climate change. Read More at The Los Angeles Times.
The Trillion-Gallon Question: Extreme weather is threatening California’s dams. What happens if they fail?
Climate change is making clear that the biggest dams in California will be unable to prevent flooding during future massive storms. When Oroville Dam nearly overtopped in 2017, dam safety regulations ramped up, affecting projects as small as EWEB's Leaburg Dam and Canal. Read More at The New York Times.
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Trivia answer:
Why is the number 607 significant to your drinking water?
If you guessed option B, congratulations, you are correct!
607 is the number of feet above sea level at which Eugene’s gravity fed water system operates. It represents the elevation of the surface of the water in EWEB’s base level storage tanks. Most Eugene residents live below that elevation, and water is gravity-fed to your tap. If you live above the base level, EWEB must use pumps to deliver your water.
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