Water Quality Events

Events

The majority of these recorded events are based on parameters set for Industrial Users. Small changes in water quality that have no impacts on the safety of drinking water can affect industrial processes. Substances in the drinking water, such as Total Organic Carbons (TOCs), are not a health concern, but they can interfere in the production of electronic components. Questions about any of the events reported below can be directed to Jessica Dorsey or Tacy Steele at 503-615-6702.
Date of Event Event Description Water Quality Impacts
3/26/24

Partial Wapato Lake dewatering

Although pumping of Wapato Lake is an annual occurrence, this year the US Fish and Wildlife Service will not be fully dewatering the lakebed to meet their restoration goals. Pumping is expected to last approximately 30 days. This pumping can affect water quality entering the JWC water treatment plant and may result in treatment changes to maintain finished water quality.
1/8/24

Treatment Change:  Caustic Soda added to Rapid Mix, due to changes in raw water chemistry. 

The addition of caustic soda occurs early in the treatment process and is not likely to have a negative effect on finished water quality. However, any change to the treatment process has the potential to impact industrial processes. No health impacts.
1/6/24 – 1/8/24

Treatment Change: Increase to the filter aid polymer

The addition of the filter aid polymer is added prior to filtration and not likely to have a negative effect on finished water quality. However, any change to the treatment process has the potential to impact industrial processes. No health impacts.
12/6/2023 – 12/13/2023

Treatment Change:  Caustic Soda added to Rapid Mix, due to changes in raw water chemistry.

The addition of caustic soda occurs early in the treatment process and is not likely to have a negative effect on finished water quality. However, any change to the treatment process has the potential to impact industrial processes. No health impacts.
11/6/23

Treatment Change:  Caustic Soda added to Rapid Mix, due to changes in raw water chemistry.

Treatment Changes: Poor influent water quality (due to heavy rains) required an increase in the dosage of Chlorine.

The addition of caustic soda occurs early in the treatment process and is not likely to have a negative effect on finished water quality. However, any change to the treatment process has the potential to impact industrial processes. No health impacts.
11/2/23 – 11/12/23

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to recent weather event.

There are no health impacts associated with these changes and the water remains safe to drink. This notice is for industrial purposes only
10/25/23 – 10/27/23

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to recent weather event.

There are no health impacts associated with these changes and the water remains safe to drink. This notice is for industrial purposes only
10/18/23

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to recent weather event.

There are no health impacts associated with these changes and the water remains safe to drink. This notice is for industrial purposes only
10/11/23

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to recent weather event.

There are no health impacts associated with these changes and the water remains safe to drink. This notice is for industrial purposes only
9/1/23

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to recent weather event.

There are no health impacts associated with these changes and the water remains safe to drink. This notice is for industrial purposes only
3/20/23 – 5/10/23

 

Wapato Lake dewatering 

 

This is an annual occurrence and is expected to continue until the lake is fully drained, approximately 3-5 weeks. This pumping can affect water quality entering the JWC water treatment plant and may result in treatment changes to maintain finished water quality.
3/10/23

Treatment Change: JWC dosage of filter aid polymer below the trigger notification level of 0.2 ppm due to improvements in raw water quality

There are no health impacts associated with these changes and the water remains safe to drink. This notice is for industrial purposes only.
3/10/23 – 3/11/23

Treatment Change:  Caustic Soda added to Rapid Mix, due to changes in raw water chemistry 

The addition of caustic soda occurs early in the treatment process and is not likely to have a negative effect on finished water quality. However, any change to the treatment process has the potential to impact industrial processes. No health impacts.
12/27/22 – 12/31/22

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to recent weather events.

Treatment Changes: Increases in raw water turbidity and organic matter incoming to the plant required an increase in the dosage of Aluminum Sulfate (Alum).

There are no health impacts associated with these changes and the water remains safe to drink. This notice is for industrial purposes only
12/26/22

Treatment Change:  Caustic Soda added to Rapid Mix, due to changes in raw water chemistry 

The addition of caustic soda occurs early in the treatment process and is not likely to have a negative effect on finished water quality. However, any change to the treatment process has the potential to impact industrial processes. No health impacts.
12/10/22 – 12/12/22

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to recent weather events.

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
11/28/22 – 12/5/22

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to recent weather events.

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
11/18/22 – 11/19/22 & 11/24/22 – 11/25/22

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to recent weather events.

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
11/5/2022

 

Treatment Changes: Poor influent water quality (due to heavy rains) required an increase in the dosage of Chlorine. Additionally, increases in raw water turbidity and organic matter incoming to the plant required an increase in the dosage of Aluminum Sulfate (Alum). Lastly, the dosage for filter aid polymer briefly exceeded the trigger level of 0.2 mg/L for approximately 30 minutes. It is now reduced below the notification level.

There are no health impacts associated with these changes and the water remains safe to drink. This notice is for industrial purposes only.
11/1/2022 – 11/11/2022 current

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to recent weather events.

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
10/22/2022 – 10/29/2022

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm.

 

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
7/7/2022

Treatment Changes: The dosage of Chlorine at the flash mix was increased to over 3.0 mg/L due to elevated raw water turbidity following routine maintenance of the raw water intake. Additionally, alum was increased (peaking at 50 mg/L) in order to handle the increased levels of raw water turbidity and organic matter. 

 

There are no health impacts associated with these changes and the water remains safe to drink. This notice is for industrial purposes only.
6/16/2022

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm.

 

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
6/7/2022 – 6/9/2022

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm.

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
6/1/22

Calibration of Powered Activated Carbon (PAC) feeder.

Treatment change: Small amounts of PAC will be dosed early in the treatment process in the flash mix, prior to sedimentation basins. Pre-chlorination to the flash mix will be suspended during this time.

This notice is for industrial purposes only. There are no health impacts associated with these changes and the water remains safe to drink. 
3/26/22 – 4/6/22

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm.

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
3/1/22 – 3/2/22

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm, due to recent weather event.

Treatment Change:  Alum dosage above 40 mg/L, due to increases in raw water turbidity and levels of organic matter

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.

No health issues or impacts on drinking water. Higher Alum dosage can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
2/28/22 – 5/27/22

Wapato Lake dewatering 

This is an annual occurrence and is expected to continue until the lake is fully drained, approximately 3-5 weeks. This pumping can affect water quality entering the JWC water treatment plant and may result in treatment changes to maintain finished water quality.
2/27/22 – 4/6/22

Treatment Change:  Caustic Soda added to Rapid Mix, due to changes in raw water chemistry 

The addition of caustic soda occurs early in the treatment process and is not likely to have a negative effect on finished water quality. However, any change to the treatment process has the potential to impact industrial processes. No health impacts.
12/11/21 – 1/13/22

Treatment Change:  Caustic Soda added to Rapid Mix, due to changes in raw water chemistry 

The addition of caustic soda occurs early in the treatment process and is not likely to have a negative effect on finished water quality. However, any change to the treatment process has the potential to impact industrial processes. No health impacts.
1/4/22

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm, due to recent weather event.

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
12/12/21 – 12/21/21

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm, due to recent weather event.

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
10/21/21 – 11/24/21

 

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm, due to recent rain.

 

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
10/21/21 – 11/20/21

Treatment Change:  Caustic Soda added to Rapid Mix, due to changes in raw water chemistry 

The addition of caustic soda occurs early in the treatment process and is not likely to have a negative effect on finished water quality. However, any change to the treatment process has the potential to impact industrial processes. No health impacts.
9/18/21

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm, due to first fall flush. 

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
6/3/21

pH level for finished water leaving the water treatment plant briefly exceeded the notification trigger level of 8.7 mg/L (peaking at 9.39 mg/L) due to an additional caustic soda pump starting unintentionally. pH is back to normal levels. 

There are no health impacts associated with these changes and the water remains safe to drink. This notice is for industrial purposes only.
5/19/21

pH & Chlorine levels for finished water leaving the water treatment plant were briefly elevated due to two filters being brought back online. 

There are no health impacts associated with these changes and the water remains safe to drink. This notice is for industrial purposes only.
4/6/21, 4/24/21

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm, due to Wapato dewatering. 

This information is for industrial purposes only. The water continues to meet health standards and is safe to drink.
2/23/21

Pumping at Wapato Lake began today. This is an annual occurrence and is expected to continue until the lake is fully drained, approximately 3-5 weeks. 

Specific water quality events related to Wapato Lake dewatering will be added to this list as they occur.

Pumping can effect water quality entering the JWC water treatment plant and may result in treatment changes to maintain finished water quality. 

This is an alert for industrial processes only. The water meets all health requirements, and is safe to drink.
2/5/21 – 2/7/21

Treatment Change:  Caustic Soda added to Rapid Mix, due to changes in raw water chemistry 

The addition of caustic soda occurs early in the treatment process and is not likely to have a negative effect on finished water quality. However, any change to the treatment process has the potential to impact industrial processes. No health impacts.
1/14/21

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm, due to heavy rain and flooding. 

 

Treatment Change:  Alum dosage above 40 mg/L, due to increases in raw water turbidity and levels of organic matter

No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.

 

No health issues or impacts on drinking water. Higher Alum dosage can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
12/17-20 – 1/17/21 Treatment Change:  Caustic Soda added to Rapid Mix The addition of caustic soda occurs early in the treatment process and is not likely to have a negative effect on finished water quality. However, any change to the treatment process has the potential to impact industrial processes. No health impacts.
12/17/2020, and 12/20-20 – 12/27/20 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm, due to atmospheric river event.  No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
11/06/2020 – 11/08/20, and 11/11/20 – 11/25/20 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
10/10/2020 – 10/16/20, and 10/27/20 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
09/19/20 – 09/21/20, and 09/24/20 – 09/29/20 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
05/04/20 – 05/07/20, and 05/25/20 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
04/15/20 – 04/18/20, and 04/28/20, and 04/30/20 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
04/02/20, and 04/10/20 – 04/11/20 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
03/06/20 – 03/30/20 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
1/29/2020 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
1/7/2020 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
12/20/2019 – 12/27/2019 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.

12/09/2019, and 12/12/2019 – 12/14/2019

 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
10/17/2019 – 10/23/2019 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
09/19/2019 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
03/06/2019-03/21/2019, and 04/07/2019 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
02/12/2019 – 02/14/2019 Another Atmospheric River Event. Record rain in 24 hour period, resulting in High TOCs and low alkalinity. Treated with the addition of caustic soda to the flash mix, and additional alum used to increase flocculation in the lower alkaline water. (The water chemistry resulting from this event wasn’t as bad as the December 2018 event. pH remained reasonable.) No violations, health issues, or impacts on drinking water. Notice of alum usage and high TOCs sent during event.
12/18/2018 – 12/23/2018 Atmospheric River Event. 2″ rain in 6 hours. Decrease in alkalinity (low 18), pH (low 6.8), and high TOCs (high 1.21) due to combination of heavy rain and “first flush.” Treated with the addition of caustic soda to the flash mix (raises alkalinity and pH), and additional alum used to increase flocculation in the low alkaline water. Decreasd flocculation also resulted in higher than normal turbidity (high .15 in finished water). No State violations, health issues, or impacts on drinking water.  Several notices sent during event.
10/26/2018 – 11/07/2018 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
10/18/2017 – 11/29/2017 TOC levels mostly above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
09/21/2017 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
06/15/2017 pH level over 8.7 for short period of time (about 45 minutes) Increased pH level caused by temporary overfeed of caustic soda into system. (New caustic pumps were installed for WTP Expansion.)Overfeeding caught quickly, but short period of high pH water produced. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. No known impacts to industrial users reported. Notice Sent.
05/17/2017-06/02/2017 Iron flocculation in Fernhill Reservoirs Higher turbidity in Fernhill Reservoir due to iron floc. Media replacement in WTP filters identified as cause. (It takes time to form oxide coating that pulls iron and manganese out of raw water.) No health issues or impacts on drinking water. No known impacts to industrial users reported. Memo sent.
05/11/2017-05/15/2017 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
11/25/2016-11/28/2016 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
10/07/2016-10/27/2016 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm, due to the first of fall rains. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
04/13/2016-05/02/2016 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm, due to Wapato pumping. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
04/29/2016-05/02/2016 Alum dosage above 40 mg/L, due to Wapato pumping. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. Higher Alum dosage can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
04/19/2016-04/22/2016 Alum dosage above 40 mg/L, due to Wapato pumping. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. Higher Alum dosage can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
12/19/2015 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. Last day that heavy rains affected TOC levels in 2015. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
12/08/2015-12/12/2015 Alum dosage above 40 mg/L, due to heavy rains and flooding conditions. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. Higher Alum dosage can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
11/19/2015 Polymer dosage above .08 mg/L, due to heavy rains affecting river conditions. Only lasted one day. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. Higher Polymer dosage can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
10/26/2015-12/13/2015 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. Extreme weather during this period kept TOCs high – heavy rains and heavy flooding on the Tualatin River. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
03/04/2015-03/29/2015 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 

02/06/2015-02/07/2015

 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
12/20/2014-12/22/2014 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
12/11/2014-12/13/2014 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 

11/22/2014 – 11/24/2014

 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
10/21/2014 – 11/12/2014 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 
3/26/2014 – 4/30/2014 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm fairly consistently, due to heavy pumping at Wapato. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent
3/20/2014 – 3/22/2014 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent. 

12/2/2013 – 12/3/2013

 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
11/3/2013 – 11/10/2013 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice sent.
10/28/2013 (Lasted only one day) TOC level above 1.0 ppm No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.

9/29/2013 – 10/07/2013

 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to heavy rains. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes. Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.

7/23/2013 -7/27/2013

 Cracked Valve on NTL caused leaking, which required a critical repair. No interruption to service.  Customers served w/Evergreen Reservoir & STL. No major water quality impacts.  Pressure decreased to allow service through STL.  Some air in line when service was returned to NTL and pressure returned to normal for the HPZ.
5/23/2013 – 6/02/2013 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to heavy rains. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes.  Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.
03/16/2013 (Lasted only 1 day) TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to activation of large Wapato pump. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes.  Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.

02/13/2013-02/23/2013

 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm due to activation of large Wapato pump. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes.  Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.

11/20/2012-11/24/2012

TOC levels above 1.0 ppm   Alum Dose at 40 mg/L.  Poly reached peak dosage of .15 mg/L   Chlorine dosage at 3.0 mg/L.

 No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs and higher chemical dosage can impact industrial processes.  Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.
10/29/2012 – 11/07/2012 TOC levels above 1.0 ppm No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes.  Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.

10/13/2012 – 10/18/2012

  TOC levels above 1.0 ppm No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes.  Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.
06/09/2012 – 06/11/2012  TOC levels above 1.0 ppm No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes.  Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.
04/16/2012 TOC levels are above 1.0 ppm No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes.  Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.
01/20/2012 TOC levels expected to rise above 1.0 ppm over the weekend, due to torrential rains and snow melt. No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes.  Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.
11/17/2011 TOC levels are above 1.0 ppm No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes.  Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.
11/04/2011 TOC levels are close to 1.0 ppm No health issues or impacts on drinking water. High TOCs can impact industrial processes.  Notice was sent out to Industrial Users Group.
09/14/2011 TOC Analyzer not working. No water quality impacts, but unable to provide TOC reads until fixed. 
06/21/2010

Big Wapato Pump turned off for remainder of season.  Little pump will continue to run as needed.

 TOC levels high due to Wapato and inflow from Carpenter Creek.  Impacts are higher because of dropping river levels and TVID turning off dilution release from Hagg Lake.
03/18/2010  Big Wapato Pump Turned on   10,000 GPM Lake Drainage into Tualatin River.  No detectable impacts on treated water at this time. 
03/08/2010 Two hour power outage pH dipped below 6.8 from 8:00-8:45 p.m. and hit a low point of 6.65 for a few minutes
02/12/2010 Small Wapato Pump Turned on Minimal Impacts
2/20/2009 pH buffer equipment non-operational for approximately four hours low pH (6.1 or so) for about six hours
6/3/08 – 9/15/08 Geosmin Taste/Odor Event  Musty taste and odor