RWPUD What's New

What's New

Holiday Office Closure
Please note that the District office will be closed on Thursday, November 24, 2011, and Friday, November 25, 2011, for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Our office will reopen on Monday, November 28. You may submit your payment by placing it in the night deposit box opposite our front entrance. Should you have an emergency such as a broken water line or other damage requiring immediate attention, please call our office at 503-665-4179 and press option 4.

Get Ready for Winter Weather
Lower temperatures can freeze your water pipes and leave you without flowing water. Minimize the effects of freezing weather:

Disconnect and drain hoses from outside faucets.

Caulk around pipes where they enter the house.

Wrap outside faucets with insulation or newspaper.

Turn off and drain irrigation systems and backflow devices; wrap backflow devices with insulating material.

Cover foundation vents with foam blocks or thickly folded newspaper.

Insulate hot and cold pipes in unheated areas, such as the garage, crawl space or attic.

Know where the main shut off valve for your plumbing is located and how to turn it off in case of emergency.

If a pipe breaks, shut off your water and water heater. If you are unable to turn off your water at a shut-off valve, call our office at 503-665-4179.

NEW Toilet Rebate Program for Duplexes, Triplexes and Fourplexes
Property owners and managers can significantly reduce water bills by replacing inefficient toilets (models that use 1.6 gallons or more of water per flush) with a new high-efficiency, 1.28 gallons per flush, WaterSense® labeled toilet and may be eligible for a $50 rebate per toilet (limit of four toilet rebates per account. Applicants must be a multi-family residential customer with a duplex, triplex or fourplex property. Rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to the availability of funds. An application reservation number is required. For more information, review the program guidelines. To see a complete list of approved models, visit: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/product_search.html. Please call the District office at 503-665-4179 to request a toilet rebate application form.

Single Family Residential $100 Toilet Rebate Program Continued
A high-efficiency toilet can save you water and money. Effective July 1, 2011, Rockwood Water PUD will again be offering its single family residential customers a $100 rebate when they replace a toilet that uses 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) or more with a new WaterSense® labeled toilet. To earn the WaterSense label, toilets must use no more than 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf) and meet rigorous performance criteria.

WaterSense Toilet Rebate Program Eligibility and Requirements:

Purchase an eligible toilet between 7/1/11 - 6/30/12. For a complete list of approved models, visit: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/product_search.html .
Complete and submit a WaterSense Toilet Rebate Form by July 6, 2012. Sales receipt specifying toilet brand/model and proof of recycling of old toilet required.
You must be a Rockwood Water PUD single-family residential customer which owns the property where the new toilet is being installed or obtain the signature of the property owner on the WaterSense Toilet Rebate Form.You must receive water from Rockwood Water PUD and your account must be active and in good standing.
Each rebate is worth $100. Limit of 2 toilet rebates per eligible account.
Rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The program will end when funds are depleted or no later than June 30, 2012.

Note: WaterSense Toilet Rebate Forms that are incomplete, lacking required documents, or missing a signature will be returned. WaterSense Toilet Rebate Forms and/or documents received after July 6, 2012, will not be processed. Rockwood Water PUD is not responsible for items lost or delayed in the mail.

Free Home Water Audit
Good News! Rockwood Water People's Utility District is working with Energy Trust of Oregon to offer customers a FREE Water Audit and Home Energy Review. An Energy Trust advisor will visit your home and do a walk-through to identify areas where energy and water are typically lost, including: insufficient or leaking water fixtures (toilets, faucets, showerheads); insulation levels in the attic/ceiling, walls, floors and ducts; heating system; air sealing and windows; ventilation; moisture problems; and old appliances.

You will also receive FREE water and energy-saving products that help make your home more efficient: high-performance showerheads, water-saving faucet aerators, and Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs. After the review, you'll receive a prioritized list of customized recommendations for your home and a list of cash incentives that may be available for qualifying, water and energy-saving improvements.

To schedule your FREE Water Audit and Home Energy Review, call Energy Trust at 1-866-368-7878 or visit www.energytrust.org. Make sure to ask for a Water Audit and Home Energy Review.**To qualify, you must have a Rockwood Water People's Utility District residential water customer account and heat your home with Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas.**

Cleveland Reservoir and Pump Station Replacement Project
We have decided to replace the reservoir and pump station located on Cleveland Avenue. The existing tank and pump station were constructed in 1985; the tank was not designed to withstand any seismic activity. The original design included an elevated spheroid tank as well. Shortly after the earthquake in 2001, the District hired a group of engineers to determine the seismic stability of the elevated tank.

Fortunately, the tank was empty during the earthquake. The engineers determined that the elevated tank would probably have fallen over had it been full when the earthquake struck. The District demolished the elevated tank shortly after the study was completed. The old pump station does not meet current demands of the area. In addition, we have difficulty maintaining pressure in the neighborhood northeast of 235th and Stark. The new pump station will also add a second supply to the area that will improve water quality. Our plans are to acquire a larger piece of property and build a new tank and pump station. The new tank will be designed to the highest seismic standard and will be completed in early 2014.

Stark Street Transmission Main - Phase 3
In 2011, we completed nearly 12,000 feet of 24 inch main line in Stark Street and 190th between Stark and Division. Phase 3, to construct nearly 10,000 feet of 12 and 18 inch mainline from 214th to 235th on Stark Street, will begin in the spring of 2012. The primary need for the upgrade is to provide a secondary source of water for the eastern part of the District. The new line will also improve water quality and pressure in this area as well as provide additional capacity throughout the District.

Pay Your Bill Online
It's easy to pay your water bill online by VISA, MasterCard, debit or check through our Utility e-Pay program. Just click on the e-Pay button below.

Customer Assistance Program
The District offers qualifying low-income customers financial assistance with their water bills. To find out if you meet income guidelines, contact Human Solutions, Inc., at one of the following offices:

Rockwood Office:
503-405-7875
124 NE 181st Ave.

Portland Office:
503-548-0200
12350 SE Powell Blvd.

Sign Up for AutoPay!
For your convenience, the District offers an Auto Pay Program. Payment of your water bill can be handled automatically by deducting the amount due from your bank account. For more information, please contact the District office. To sign up, simply print the Auto Pay authorization form, fill it out and return it to the District office along with a voided check or deposit slip. It's that simple! The form is in PDF format and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing or printing.