The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a $319 million loan under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) to the City of Portland, Oregon. This financial assistance will support the construction of the Bull Run Treatment Projects, designed to comply with federal and state safe drinking water standards. The initiative aims to protect nearly 1 million residents across Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties.
This marks Portland's second WIFIA loan, pushing its total borrowing from the program to over $1 billion for this treatment initiative. The favorable terms of these loans are expected to save the city approximately $140 million over time.
"Thriving communities expect and depend on reliable drinking water,” said Wendi Wilkes, EPA Director of Infrastructure Implementation for EPA Water. “These two WIFIA loans mark the largest EPA contribution ever to a drinking water project, and an impressive step forward for the City of Portland as they ensure safe drinking water for their residents.”
The funding will enable Portland to build a new filtration facility along with pipelines that will filter out Cryptosporidium from their Bull Run supply before it reaches consumers. This measure not only addresses current water quality standards but also enhances future system resilience against potential risks.
The projects are anticipated to create 6,100 jobs while allocating over $400 million to firms certified by the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID). The city is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion through various initiatives including a job apprenticeship program.
Construction contracts for the filtration facility will include Community Benefits Agreements focusing on workforce equity goals targeting people of color and women in trades. Opportunities for Disadvantaged, Minority-Owned, Women-Owned, Emerging Small Businesses, and Service-Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise contractors will also be maximized.
“Securing another major WIFIA loan for the Bull Run Treatment Program is a huge step forward in our work to ensure clean, safe, and reliable water for Oregonians,” Senator Jeff Merkley said. He praised Oregon’s leaders for their role in addressing water infrastructure challenges which inspired him to create the WIFIA program.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler emphasized the importance of filtration following a wildfire that threatened their facilities last summer: “Filtration is the versatile solution Portland needs to address the water quality risks posed by seismic, wildfire- and weather-related issues we will face in the future.”
Water Bureau Director Edward Campbell stated that delivering safe water remains their top priority: “This filtration facility is a long-term investment that will pay dividends in protecting our livability, our economy, and our health now and for generations to come."
Deputy City Administrator Priya Dhanapal highlighted the economic benefits: “Considering direct and secondary Bull Run Treatment project impacts, the total economic contribution to the tri-county study area is more than $1.59 billion in output over a 10-year period.”
Since its inception under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed in November 2021, EPA’s WIFIA program has facilitated nearly $21 billion in financing towards various infrastructure projects across America.
The EPA continues its efforts through multiple selection rounds offering billions via WIFIA financing alongside other federal resources aimed at enhancing vital water infrastructure nationwide.
