Hillsboro's Water Safe To Drink & Use: Chlorine Shortage Updates

Press release from the City of Hillsboro:

June 17, 2021

Chlorine Shortage Updates: Week of June 21, 2021

This week, the chlorine manufacturer finished repair of their equipment, and restarted chlorine production. Although this is promising news, it will take time to resolve the chlorine shortage situation across the region. Because of the duration of the shut-down, there will be a lag time in restoring normal supplies to the region.

During the week of June 14, the Joint Water Commission (JWC) Water Treatment Plant – who produces drinking water for the cities of Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Beaverton, and the Tualatin Valley Water District – received a shipment of chlorine, and is expecting another delivery the week of June 28.

Drinking water produced by the JWC and served by the Hillsboro Water Department to customers continues to be safe to drink and use.

Throughout this incident, the JWC Water Treatment Plant and/or the Cherry Grove Slow Sand Filter Plant – both responsible for producing water for Hillsboro Water Department customers – continued to effectively and safely treat water.

The Hillsboro Water Department is continuing to coordinate with state and local partners to support utilities to secure access to necessary chlorine supply or have other tools/resources needed to maintain environmental quality and permit compliance.

To all our customers and residents in the area, thank you for your voluntary help and support. For questions, please contact the Hillsboro Water Department at 503-615-6702 or by email.

In mid-June, the City of Hillsboro Water Department was notified of a chlorine shortage caused by an equipment failure at a manufacturing facility on the west coast.

Hillsboro Water Department customers receive drinking water from the Joint Water Commission (JWC) Water Treatment and Cherry Grove Slow Sand Filter plants. Both plants rely on chlorine in the treatment process to kill harmful pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses – and to ensure water is safe to drink and use.

Protection of public health is the Hillsboro Water Department’s number one priority.

The drinking water coming out of your tap remains safe to drink and use.

Hillsboro’s water supply is not impacted by the chlorine shortage at this time.

Staff have implemented measures to extend chlorine supplies and are working to acquire additional supplies from other manufacturers, while also ensuring that the water remains safe to drink.

To get the chlorine supply needed to treat drinking water for Hillsboro customers, the Water Department is working directly with other water utilities, the Oregon Governor’s Office, Oregon Emergency Management, Oregon Health Authority, Department of Environmental Quality, and the Oregon Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network.

Hillsboro water customers can voluntarily help conserve the chlorine supply by reducing indoor and outdoor water use.

Additional water efficiency tips are available online.

Water Department staff will keep Hillsboro customers informed and provide updates if additional actions are needed.

Resources

• For more information and to check for updates, visit Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/Water or follow the Hillsboro Water Department on Twitter.
• To learn more about the water treatment process, visit the City of Hillsboro Water Department website.

Contact Us

To all our customers and residents in the area, thank you for your voluntary help and support. For questions, please contact the Hillsboro Water Department at 503-615-6702 or by email.

This press release was produced by the City of Hillsboro. The views expressed here are the author’s own.