EUGENE WATER  &  ELECTRIC  BOARD

The McKenzie River is the sole source of drinking water for more than 200,000 people in the Eugene metropolitan area. Recognizing the importance of this valuable resource, the Eugene Water & Electric Board in 2000 developed a drinking water source protection plan, which includes a risk assessment of all potential threats to our drinking water.

As part of this effort, EWEB launched an ambitious program to protect the McKenzie and the high water quality EWEB customers have come to appreciate. EWEB's full-time source protection coordinator manages a number of innovative, proactive programs to support this program.

Read EWEB's Drinking Water Source Protection Plan.

A special McKenzie Water Quality website provides partner agencies, researchers, watershed stakeholders and the interested public with data and information collected by EWEB on the health of the McKenzie River.

EWEB has developed an emergency response system for the McKenzie River watershed.

Meet Karl Morgenstern and learn more about what he does to protect your drinking water.

This program targets growers and seeks to increase the economic viability of farming while protecting critical drinking water resources.

EWEB collects about sources of pollution in the watershed. EWEB is engaging landowners in the watershed to help with this voluntary program.

EWEB has invited homeowners living in identified areas in the McKenzie River watershed to participate in a project that will include water quality monitoring, education and free septic system inspections.

EWEB and other agencies launched an innovative program to collect unwanted or obsolete chemicals being stored on farms and other agricultural property in the McKenzie River and Middle Fork Willamette watersheds.