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EWEB Drinking Water Source Protection Program
In August 2000, the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) completed a plan to protect the McKenzie River as the sole source of drinking water for the community of Eugene. EWEB began development of a source protection program in May 2001 that i
mplements
the August 2000 plan to address the various threats to water quality and long-term viability of the McKenzie River as a drinking water source. The source protection program is comprehensive in that it addresses all threats to the watershed from pollution runoff to spills to terrorist activities, as well as, fostering partnerships and education among the residents and stakeholders in the watershed.
mplements the August 2000 plan to address the various threats to water quality and long-term viability of the McKenzie River as a drinking water source. The source protection program is comprehensive in that it addresses all threats to the watershed from pollution runoff to spills to terrorist activities, as well as, fostering partnerships and education among the residents and stakeholders in the watershed.EWEB is currently working closely and developing long-term partnerships with over 30 agencies and watershed stakeholders, local high schools, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, watershed landowners, and residential associations as the source protection program is implemented on the ground. The source protection program consists of eight main elements:
- Comprehensive Monitoring
- Disaster Preparedness and Response
- Education and Research Assistance
- Point Source Evaluation and Mitigation
- Nonpoint Source Evaluation and Mitigation
- Land Acquisition
- Public Outreach and Information Sharing
- Watershed Land Use Tracking and Management
The overall concept of source protection is to have the ability to measure the balance between watershed health and human use over time and implement actions that maintain a healthy balance for production of exceptional water quality. This requires not only being aware of all the different human activities going on within the watershed, but also understanding the limits of what the river can handle and still maintain a healthy watershed with good water quality.
The 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.