Clean Water Services staff on Nov. 4 presented the West Basin Master Plan and the Washington County Board of Commissioners, sitting as Clean Water Services board directors, unanimously adopted the plan.

Josh Johnson, principal engineer, told directors the West Basin plan is a 20-year (through 2045) roadmap that forecasts population and system loads, evaluates alternatives, and sequences capital and lifecycle-cost-optimal projects. "We develop growth forecast for population, business, and industry, in coordination with cities," Johnson said in the presentation. He described a three-step planning approach: understand growth and flows; model conveyance and treatment capacity; and select preferred alternatives to develop the capital improvement program.

Johnson summarized the primary outcomes: about $920 million in conveyance projects through 2045, including multi-phase pipelines (Turner Creek, Beaverton, Dawson and Lower Rock Creek trunks) and major pump station upgrades; and just under $500 million in treatment projects, including capacity and rehabilitation at Rock Creek, Forest Grove and Hillsboro water resource recovery facilities. Directors noted the plan is a living document with annual check-ins to update project timing based on actual growth.

Board members connected the plan to rates and reserves: one director observed the plan helps explain capital needs underpinning rates and reserve levels. Director comments commended the staff and the plan's "executive summary" aimed at making the plan consumable for ratepayers. Following discussion and thanks to staff and co-implementer cities, the board adopted the resolution to approve the West Basin Master Plan by unanimous vote (5-0).

Clean Water Services staff said they had engaged the Clean Water Services Advisory Commission and co-implementer cities throughout the project; staff also described a separate CWAC subcommittee that reviewed the draft plan and recommended board adoption.