Consultant warns Dundee—s max-day water demand now exceeds system capacity; council OKs legal review of water-right extensions

Bob Long, a hydrogeologist for CWMH 2.0 of Lake Oswego, told the Dundee City Council on July 8 that the city—s maximum-day water demand is now crossing over the system—s current capacity and that the community should be cautious about approving additional growth without added supply or capacity. "Water rights are extremely difficult to get in the state of Oregon," Long said. "Your max day demand is crossing over your system capacity now."

Long summarized a written memo the council had received and described work his firm completed to prepare and pursue extensions of time, partial beneficial-use claims and certificates for the city—s existing water rights. He said Dundee has "plenty of water rights on paper," but meeting the volume and rate conditions in those documents is often the harder part.

The consultant outlined near- and longer-term options: PFAS sampling and follow-up testing under a state program; targeted well rehabilitation or replacement; reactivation and feasibility study of Well 4 near the river for potential riverbank filtration; use of two certificated springs for aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) and instream leases to preserve those certificates; and eventual development of a surface-water treatment plant tied to the Willamette River. Long—s memo estimated 5 million to 7 million gallons of wintertime flow could be available for ASR, which he described as "not a silver bullet" but a useful bridge to other sources.

Long also discussed operational issues: the city—s system is currently all groundwater, some wells are damaged and chlorination is accelerating wellhouse wear. He described Well 10 as having a vertical crack in the casing and said repair estimates discussed with staff ranged from about $880,000 to roughly $1 million with no guarantee of success. He recommended feasibility studies before large capital commitments.

Council members asked about the sources of reported water loss; Long said the 16% loss figure cited in the city—s water master plan and water management and conservation plan typically stems from old pipelines, broken valves and aging infrastructure. He noted state targets generally aim for a system loss of 10% or less. Steve Dahl, the city administrator, confirmed the city is replacing meters and working to reduce loss toward that target.

As part of the packet of water-right filings Long described, the council voted to authorize city attorneys to review the proposed water-right extension materials prepared by CWMH 2.0 before submission to the state. The motion passed.

Why it matters: Long said Dundee—s paper water rights could support growth if investments are made in infrastructure and if the city uses tools such as instream leases and feasible ASR to boost effective capacity. Council members and staff said the report provides a basis for a council work group and further feasibility work to guide short-, medium- and long-term decisions on rates, capital projects and development approvals.

What—s next: The council asked staff to pursue feasibility studies for ASR and Well 4, to plan for the PFAS sampling window described by Long, and to return with cost estimates and recommended timelines. The city also directed the attorney to review the extension filings to ensure technical and legal completeness prior to the state filing.