Wildfires & Drinking Water

Bull Run Watershed Fire - The Portland Water Bureau is monitoring a fire in the Bull Run Watershed. Portland’s water remains safe to drink. Click here for more information or follow the Portland Water Bureau on X (Twitter) and Facebook for updates.

What you can do:

Sign up for Public Alerts to receive emergency alerts via text, email, or voice message for free in the Portland - Vancouver metropolitan region. The website also includes detailed information about building an emergency kit and disaster sanitation, including how to make a toilet, disaster planning, and ways to get involved.
Wildfires can impact water sources, water quality, damage drinking water infrastructure, and cause power outages. Do your part by being careful and follow burn bans when you are hiking, camping, and boating. Many of the region’s favorite recreation spots are out of cell phone range so know your evacuation route and have an AM/FM radio with you so you can get emergency information.
Use water wisely this summer: it’s just the right thing to do. Find out how to use water efficiently at home and in your garden. Water saved today may be useful to help fight wildfires this summer.
Be prepared with an emergency kit that includes a two-week supply of water. Learn how to store, treat, and access water in an emergency.

How your water provider prepares for emergencies:

Working together is what we do. The Consortium’s 25 water provider members have worked together for more than 25 years to ensure that the region’s water needs can be met in the face of natural disasters, such as wildfires.
Water providers maintain 46,767 fire hydrants in the Portland metro area. Water systems are designed and maintained to provide drinking water and to ensure there is enough water pressure and flow to fight fires.
Regional emergency water treatment and distribution equipment is on standby to help provide drinking water for emergency responders or the public if needed.

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