Bend’s Outback Water Facility Expansion could mean higher water bills
Tracee Tuesday
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Bend is preparing for a major expansion of its Outback Water Facility—an estimated $50 million project aimed at keeping up with the city’s rapid growth and ensuring safe, reliable drinking water for years to come. Bend’s dual-source water system pulls from the Upper Deschutes Basin, serving not only city residents but also regional needs like irrigation and in-stream flows.
City officials say the Outback site is critical to the entire system—and expansion is no longer optional. The project would add: • New pretreatment systems to improve water quality • Additional reservoirs and wells • In-conduit hydroelectric generation • A wildfire water fill station • Security upgrades to meet federal standards To make it possible, Bend is also working to acquire 48 acres of nearby Deschutes National Forest land through the Townsite Act.
The City’s Principal Engineer, Brittany Barker said, the expansion project has been, and will continue to be, a lengthy process as the plan looks to sustain what we see in 50, even 100 years. As to when the expansion project will break ground? Barker said:
“We’re hopeful in that 12-to-18-month period that we can work with a design team and a contractor and start developing those plans and getting ready to hit the ground as soon as we get the paperwork signed, then if we’re able to start construction right away, it would probably be a two-year long construction duration until everything’s operational. I’d say, we’re looking at maybe three years, best case scenario.”
Who pays for it? The City is aggressively pursuing outside funding, including FEMA support, state and federal grants, and loans. But officials are warning that if full funding doesn’t come through, residents may see higher water bills to help cover the cost.
City leaders say the expansion is about more than just infrastructure—it’s about protecting the community’s water supply against future demand, environmental pressures, and wildfire risks. City council members agree that, growth isn’t slowing down, and neither is the need for reliable water. This investment ensures Bend has the infrastructure it needs, but that local leadership is doing everything possible to limit the cost to ratepayers.