Emergency Preparedness
Preparation starts here
Thoughtful preparation across TVWD’s water system—and in your home—helps keep water flowing from source to tap all year long.
In the case of an emergency, however, it’s possible that your water service may be interrupted. We encourage you to use the resources here to learn how to store water, keep an emergency kit, and stay prepared.
Keep your water meter and hydrants accessible
Safe and easy access to water meters helps TVWD's operators during emergency response activities like water main breaks.
Operators shut off water meters during emergency repairs to safely isolate your home's plumbing from the chance of contamination until water service is ready to be restored. It's important to keep the meter box free of plants and roots that can obstruct or hide the meter or damage the service line.
Your water meter is located in a concrete or plastic box flush to the ground, generally near a sidewalk or the curb in front or to the side of your house, typically close to a property line with a neighbor.
If you need assistance finding your meter or note a discrepancy with your meter, please contact us at (503) 848-3000.
Winterize your home or property
There are many precautions you can take to minimize the impact of ice storms, cold temperatures and other weather events.
Unpredictable weather can wreak havoc on pipes. Being prepared can make all the difference.
Spring or summer is the perfect time to start thinking about how to prepare. By fall, you’ll be ready to begin your wintering process.
Learn more about Cold Weather Preparedness and watch our Talkin' Water: Residential Winter Preparation video for tips on preparing your residence for winter.
Emergency water storage and more
Ready.gov urges Americans to store 1 gallon of water per person per day (plus extra if you have pets) in case of emergency.
The Regional Water Providers Consortium suggests that residents of the Pacific Northwest prepare for a 14-day outage.
Learn how—and much more—by following the links below.
“If we're doing our jobs well, no one is talking about us because customers just turn on the tap and water comes out. But in the event of an emergency, when everyone else is home, TVWD will have a small army coming in and driving through treacherous conditions to make sure our customers are taken care of.”
The Willamette Water Supply System will provide our region with an additional water supply for the future. When the system is operating in 2026, TVWD customers, the City of Hillsboro and the City of Beaverton will be served by an expanded intake facility, a new state-of-the-art treatment plant and more than thirty miles of large diameter transmission pipe.