Portland Water: Parasite Detected In Bull Run Reservoir

For the fourth time this year, the Portland Water Bureau has found a parasite in the drinking water at the Bull Run watershed during regular testing. Bull Run supplies drinking water to nearly 1 million people in Portland and nearby cities.

The discovery Monday follows nearly five years of the bureau finding no trace of the parasite, cryptosporidium.

The water bureau said they do "not believe there is any increased public health risk" at this time but suggests that people with severely weakened immune systems consult with their health care provider about drinking the water.

"The Portland Water Bureau is carefully tracking these results and working closely with our partners at the Multnomah County Health Department and Oregon Health Authority," said Water Bureau Administrator Mike Stuhr. "While the health risk of these results is low, we take seriously our commitment to protecting public health."

While many cities treat their water for cryptosporidium, Portland received an exemption from the Oregon Health Authority in 2012. The city had gone ten straight years of not finding any trace of the parasite.

Instead of treating the water, the city normally conducts testing twice a week,

If the parasite continues to be found, the city will have to consider other options including a water treatment plant and a filtration system.

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Photo credit: Portland Water Bureau