Water Curtailment Notice FAQ
The overnight failure of a water pump at the Willamette River Water Treatment Plant (WRWTP) on July 30, 2022, temporarily reduced the Plant’s ability to effectively pump treated water to customers. The temporary Water Curtailment Notice that was in effect has been lifted. There are no restrictions on water usage.
Frequently Asked Questions (last updated 8/3/22 @ 6:40 pm)
When was the curtailment lifted?
Veolia, which operates the Willamette River Water Treatment Plant (WRWTP), notified Wilsonville and Sherwood officials on Wednesday afternoon that the failed pump had been repaired and was back in operation.
Wow, already!? What happened?
On Wednesday, Aug. 3, a field engineer replaced a short-circuited power component in the pump that failed on Friday with a new component that was priority-shipped to the Plant this week.
Was the curtailment notice effective?
Yes! The notice proved an effective way of limiting demand, as daily consumption dropped from an average of 10.4 million gallons per day (mgpd) in the five days pre-curtailment to 8.4 mgpd in the first three full days after the notice was issued.
Why was a water curtailment notice in place?
Just after 11:30 pm on Friday, July 29, the Willamette River Water Plant suffered a transmission pump failure. The failed pump is one of four transmission pumps at the plant, which produces water for the Cities of Wilsonville and Sherwood. The plant maintained the ability to produce high-quality potable water but was unable to transmit water as efficiently to meet higher demand.
Is water safe to drink? Do I need to start buying bottled water?
The water being supplied to homes remains safe for drinking. There are no contamination concerns. The curtailment notice has been issued because the failure of a water pump impacts the Plant’s ability to distribute water as effectively to meet high demand.
What does a water curtailment notice achieve?
The intent of this notice is to lower water demand in order to ensure that all customers maintain sufficient water for drinking, cooking and hygiene.
Who is affected by this notice?
This notice was in place for four days (July 30-Aug.3) for all residential and commercial customers within the Cities of Wilsonville and Sherwood, whose water is sourced from the Willamette River Water Treatment Plant.
Aren’t backup systems in place to prevent events like this from happening?
Yes, and that's why the Plant was able to provide uninterrupted service despite the pump failure. The Willamette River Water Treatment Plant is equipped with four separate transmission pumps. The pump that failed handles a daily output of approximately 7.5 million gallons per day. With the extreme heat and high consumption occurring within the region, the Cities of Wilsonville and Sherwood exercised an abundance of caution to ensure sufficient water for consumption and emergencies.
Why didn't I hear about this? How can I get future communications?
The curtailment notice was distributed on Saturday via several of the City's social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, NextDoor), the City's website, via email (to "Let's Talk, Wilsonville!" subscribers) and electronically to those who have subscribed to receive "City News" that is posted to the City's website.
Additionally, our Emergency Management partners at Washington County and Clackamas County pushed the news to anyone who has signed up to receive Public Alerts. You can sign up today at publicalerts.org to receive future notifications.
Are the water features on at Town Center Park and Murase Plaza?
Yes. These features operate on a closed-loop system that continuously recycles water through the systems. We are able to keep both features operational.
Can I water my lawn?
Yes. During the curtailment, residents were asked to limit irrigation activities by watering no more than once every other day until the notice was lifted. The City reduced irrigation in parks to every other day while the notice was in effect. City Hall and other facilities did no watering during the curtailment.
Still have questions?
Send them our way at publicaffairs@ci.wilsonville.or.us.
