The Cascade Groundwater Alliance (CGA) is a partnership between Rockwood Water People’s Utility District and the City of Gresham to ensure customers have a safe, reliable, and affordable source of drinking water for the future. Together, the Alliance is expanding an independent regional groundwater supply to increase capacity for our 138,000 community members in East Multnomah County.
Click here for a general overview of CGA’s Projects.
Benefits
• Best value for customers
• Lower long-term rates for customers
• Shared costs and resources save money
• More consistent high-quality water
• Independent, local control of water policy
• Better earthquake-resistant reservoirs and pipes
Learn more about Cascade Groundwater Alliance’s benefits: Water Quality, Emergency Preparedness, Best Value
Groundwater System
Design and construction of the newly expanded groundwater system is underway and consists of nine inter-related projects. When complete in 2026, the new system will expand our groundwater supply with enough capacity of high-quality water to service our community for generations to come. Project construction and operation are expected to create more than 400 local jobs.
Why Groundwater?
Groundwater provides a safe, reliable and plentiful source of water for Rockwood and Gresham
customers as well as other cities in the region including Fairview, Portland, Troutdale, and Wood
Village. Gresham and Rockwood Water, currently purchase a majority of their water from the City of Portland. Owning, building and operating an independent groundwater supply will be more affordable for customers and bring decision-making into the local community and provides greater resilience for the entire region.
Low-Cost Funding
To help finance the project, Gresham and Rockwood Water are receiving federal WIFIA (Water
Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) loans. WIFIA loans offer low, fixed interest rates, with
flexible financial terms. The WIFIA loans will provide approximately $30 million for Rockwood Water and $34 million for Gresham. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the Alliance partners will save approximately $18 million by financing with WIFIA loans.
