Thursday, August 13, 2026 / Eugene / Glenwood
EWEB cuts $70 million from the first version of its backup water plant
Commissioners chose a 19.4-million-gallon-a-day first phase instead of 30 million gallons; the project is still estimated at $431 million.
Eugene's second water plant got smaller before it got built. EWEB commissioners chose a 19.4-million-gallon-per-day first phase for the planned Willamette River treatment plant, rather than the 30-million-gallon version they had also considered. The smaller choice trims roughly $70 million from an estimated $431 million project.
The plant is meant to give Eugene a backup to the McKenzie River and the Hayden Bridge plant, the city's only current source-and-treatment combination. EWEB still describes 30 million gallons a day as the eventual buildout; postponing that capacity protects near-term finances but is expected to cost more later.
Staff is due back in October with a refined 10-year financial projection. Design is expected to take about 18 months, followed by roughly five years of construction. No precise rate increase was established in the checked material.
Field notes
What changed: EWEB selected a 19.4-million-gallon-per-day first phase for its planned Willamette River treatment plant, about $70 million below the larger option.
Why it matters: The choice balances earthquake and outage resilience against a large public-utility cost that may affect future capital plans and rates.
Who may be affected: EWEB water customers, Eugene residents and institutions that depend on a reliable second water source.