HARRISBURG, Ore. (AP) — After obtaining a new permit to pump from the Willamette River, the city of Harrisburg is having a debate over its bad tasting but cheap tap water.
The Eugene Register-Guard reports (http://bit.ly/pYhV9E ) that Harrisburg currently pumps water from the city’s five wells, which cost $80,000 a year to maintain. The city does little but chlorinate the water to kill bacteria before sending it to the municipal system.
Recently the state Department of Water Resources gave permission to the city to pump from the Willamette River. But officials say that would cost $12.6 million over the next 20 years, including building a $5.2 million filtration system.
The city’s well system will have to be revamped too. That would cost an estimated $3.3 million over two decades.
