Water Supplies & quality
In spite of the region’s high-desert location, water supplies easily meet the demands of our growing economy. Clean, clear water from mountain snows and underground springs supply several communities that have utilized a watershed system for the past 90 years. Other municipalities outside the reaches of mountain watersheds use high capacity wells to tap into an enormous, pure, deep-aquifer created when the region’s landmass was formed by volcanic forces.
The bulk of Bend’s population is served by the City; remaining areas are served by two separate, private water providers, the Avion Water Company and Roats Water System. The City of Bend’s water system, as of 2007, consisted of 25 wells and 4 reservoirs; the source of the city’s water supply lies 13 miles west at the confluence of Bridge Creek and Tumalo Creek. Download a copy of the City of Bend's latest (2007) Water Quality Report, which covers information on water sources, supply system, service area, and water quality monitoring results, including drinking water evaluations.
The City of Redmond’s water system draws water from a deep unconfined aquifer within layered volcanic rock beneath the City. There are a total of seven wells in the system.
The City of Prineville Water System consists of nine deep wells which are all located in the Ochoco and Crooked River valleys. View Prineville's water quality report here.
Deschutes Valley Water District is the supplier of water in Jefferson County, serving Madras, Metolius, and Culver with high quality water drawn from the Opal Springs aquifer southwest of Culver. There is no filtration or treatment of Opal Springs nor the District’s artesian wells (none is needed); download a copy of the 2007 water quality report for Jefferson County.
Note that developments outside municipal boundaries use wells also, often through water districts, private companies, or neighborhood associations that maintain residential water systems.
Water Rates
Water rates vary between communities in the region and commercial and industrial rates are based on meter size. For illustrative purposes, below are the water rates for the two most populous cities in Central Oregon, Bend and Redmond. For more information, see the Public Works section of the City of Bend's website; and the Public Works section of the City of Redmond's website. Please contact EDCO at 541-388-3236 for additional information.
| City of Bend Water Rates (as of 9/1/08) |
|
| Meter Size |
Monthly Fixed Rate |
Volume Rate (/ccf) |
| 5/8" |
$11.67 |
$1.19 |
| 3/4" |
$15.87 |
$1.19 |
| 1" |
$24.62 |
$1.19 |
| 1.5" |
$47.84 |
$1.19 |
| 2" |
$85.40 |
$1.19 |
| 3" |
$223.89 |
$1.19 |
| 4" |
$350.25 |
$1.19 |
| 6" |
$684.28 |
$1.19 |
| 8" |
$1,022.28 |
$1.19 |
Source: City of Bend, Public Works
| City of Redmond Water Rates (as of 3/1/08) |
|
| Meter Size |
Monthly Fixed Rate |
Volume Rate (/ccf) |
| 5/8" |
$11.30 |
$0.91 |
| 3/4" |
$14.58 |
$0.91 |
| 1" |
$21.15 |
$0.91 |
| 1.5" |
$37.53 |
$0.91 |
| 2" |
$57.23 |
$0.91 |
| 3" |
$109.67 |
$0.91 |
| 4" |
$168.70 |
$0.91 |
| 6" |
$332.63 |
$0.91 |
Source: City of Redmond, Public Works
Sewer
With some of the best maintained and most innovative sewer systems in the country, Central Oregon is able to maintain its (and the state’s) reputation for being environmentally pristine. For example, Prineville incorporated a municipal golf course into their sewer treatment facility, which has made them a model for similar systems elsewhere in the state. Sewer rates vary between communities in the region and commercial and industrial rates are based on meter size; please contact EDCO at 541-388-3236 for specifics.