After more than a year of research and planning, EWEB is preparing to move forward with construction of new water storage facilities on an undeveloped property near E. 40th Ave in southeast Eugene. The 10-acre property was acquired by EWEB in 1950 as a future water storage site.

Preliminary plans had called for building one 7.5 million-gallon (MG) tank at the E. 40th site beginning in 2021, then returning several years later to build a second 7.5 MG tank. But at their April 6 meeting, EWEB’s elected Board of Commissioners endorsed a decision to construct both tanks concurrently commencing in 2021. 

The decision follows multiple studies by EWEB and external parties to evaluate site layout and construction options considering drinking water safety and quality requirements, engineering and construction constraints, impacts to neighbors, environmental considerations, and costs.

The final site design and construction plan that was endorsed by EWEB’s Board achieves the following goals:

• Provides 15 MG of secure, reliable water storage in the shortest period of time.
• Minimizes impacts to oak woodland on the site, which has been identified by state and local resource protection agencies as priority habitat for protection and restoration.
• Requires the least amount of rock excavation, reducing the duration, noise, and cost of construction.
• Protects the viewshed for the most area neighbors.
• Saves approximately $1.4 million (2021 Net Present Value) by constructing both tanks concurrently.
• Consolidates the work into a single disruptive period, avoiding a second round of neighborhood disruption and property impacts.
• Limits Patterson St. wear and tear and coincides with City of Eugene street repairs.

Earthwork will begin in late summer 2021 and the entire construction process is expected to take around three years. The tanks will provide 15 MG of secure, reliable water storage to all of Eugene, and after construction, the remainder of the property (approximately 8 acres) will be re-landscaped and remain open to the public.
Learn more about the E. 40th water storage project.

To stay informed and involved, visit https://eweb.org/waterstorage, contact the Project Team by phone 541-685-7899, or email water.storage@eweb.org. The team includes: Laura Farthing, Project Manager/Senior Civil Engineer; Jen Connors, Communications Supervisor; Jeannine Parisi, Customer Relationship Manager; and Wally McCullough, Water Engineering Supervisor.