Bull Run

This past November, Portlanders got an urgent reminder that the city’s lead problem has persisted. Out of 104 homes sampled by the water bureau, 10% had lead levels higher than 21 parts per billion (or ppb) — the highest results the city has seen in two decades and well above the federal limit.

Portland City Council voted Wednesday to move toward a water filtration plant that could cost the city up to $500 million.

The Portland Water Bureau is weighing options to comply with a federal rule that requires treatment of the city’s drinking water supply for a single-celled parasite. The cost could be $500 million.

New research aims to find out how destructive a Cascadia earthquake would be for Portland's water supply.