Attend our April 29th
FREE Lunch-time
Workshop for Business on the
Groundwater Protection Program
The Reference
Manual update is in final review. A summary
of changes can
be downloaded. A public hearing is scheduled for
Tuesday, May 25th, 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Multnomah Education Service District
Offices
11611 NE Ainsworth Circle, Portland OR
Portland's Groundwater Protection Program
Business Outreach and Technical Assistance
The Groundwater Protection Program is designed to prevent hazardous chemicals from contaminating Portland's well water. A series of wells are situated along the south shore of the Columbia River in NE Portland and Gresham (see the Well Field Area Map). These wells provide the back-up drinking water supply for Portland. When Bull Run water runs short (commonly in late summer), the Well Field supplies an increasing amount of drinking water. Obviously, contamination of these wells with solvents, oils, etc. would lead to an expensive and difficult clean-up.
CCA has been actively involved in the development of the Columbia South Shore Groundwater Protection Program. Our visibility and well developed relationships with Corridor businesses have helped us provide outreach and education to affected businesses as well as to provide technical assistance. If you have any questions about the Groundwater Protection Program, call CCA at 503.287.8686. If we don't know the answer, we'll find it for you.
As a result of this productive collaboration, the Groundwater Protection
Program won a Source
Water Protection Award from the American Water Works Association.
Program Elements
During the five-year phased implementation of the compliance program and
working in partnership with the cities of Portland, Gresham and Fairview,
as well as the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, CCA worked to achieve
the following Business and Industry Outreach/Education and Technical Assistance
outcomes:
-Assist Columbia Southshore businesses in assessing their compliance issues and planning to bring their business into compliance by producing promotional and education materials and conducting workshops.
-Provide technical assistance and facility assessments to improve compliance, including on-site consultations, telephone and email consulting to interpret and satisfy Reference Manual requirements.
-Develop and maintain a Program Implementation Guidebook for businesses.
-Identify available programs or resources or develop such programs to mitigate some of the financial impacts of program compliance to businesses.
