Nonpotable Water Supply System Planning

Portland, Oregon

The Port of Portland has begun developing a nonpotable water supply system to provide for irrigation water and industrial process water at certain of its general aviation facilities and marine terminals, as well as in industrial districts that it has developed and leased to tenants. GSI is conducting water resource planning studies for the Port. A significant portion of GSI’s work has consisted of developing a water management and conservation plan (WMCP). The WMCP includes water demand forecasts for 20 years and beyond and establishes formal benchmarks for continuing the Port’s ongoing water conservation programs. The WMCP also serves as the vehicle for the Port to obtain permission from the Oregon Water Resources Department to gain access to a significant portion of its existing municipal water rights. In a second project, GSI and two subcontractors are conducting a study of possible billing rate structures to apply to future industrial uses of Port-provided nonpotable water in the Rivergate Industrial District. The study consists of compiling historic capital cost data and operating cost data for the existing nonpotable water supply system; developing a conceptual design for full build-out of the system; developing estimates of capital costs and operating costs for the full system; projecting future industrial growth and development in the district (with significant input from Port personnel); and identifying alternative rate structures and evaluating their ability to meet the Port’s objectives for revenue generation.