Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland City Commissioners have changed course slightly on a controversy over reservoirs.  April Baer reports that the Council chose an option Wednesday to comply with a federal water treatment mandate.

As any of the thirty-plus people testifying could tell you, Portland drinking water is great. But the city still has to obey a new EPA rule mandating protections against cryptosporidium contamination.

Commissioners were stuck between the inflexible federal rule and a tidal wave of public opposition to aggressive water treatments.  But they managed to vote unanimously to pursue a waiver of the federal requirement. 

At the same time, they'll plan a $180 million plant to treat the Bull Run water with ultraviolet light.

Commissioner Randy Leonard, who runs the Water Bureau, says the staff had good reasons for recommending a more expensive sand-filtration system.

Randy Leonard   "If there's one part I regret, it's that the action we take today is not consistent with the visionary action of prior leaders of the Water Bureau to anticipate future needs."

But Leonard said he knew he didn't have the votes to get that option approved.

The government says the treatment system has to be online by April 1st 2014.