Goldie 1

Robbie Goldie
Professor Cardoza
FRINQ Portland
3/1/16
Portland and the Pacific Northwest:
Your Destination for All of Your Waterly Concerns
Portland Oregon is known for its abundance of water, both in drinking
water and rainfall. Costal air brings in moisture and that moisture
precipitates all across the Pacific Northwest, covering the Pacific Northwest in
a near constant rain. Portland is hailed as the city that always rains, and has
a reputation for its quality drinking water. Because of the Pacific Northwests
reputation for clear, reliable water, corporations like Nestl are attempting to
privatize the freshwater of the Pacific Northwest, and bottle it off around the
globe with lower drinking standards for a profit. Recently, the Pacific
Northwest underwent a drought, and with no rainfall providing the clean,
reliable water the Pacific Northwest is known for, residents grew concerned
about the implications of selling water to a multinational corporation. This
privatization of a public, life preserving resource like water is one of the
greatest threats to citizens nationwide, and as companies expand and the
privatization of public resources continues, the Pacific Northwest as we know
it could become a corporate wasteland.

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The City of Portland Water Bureau tests water quality daily, checking
for over 200 contaminants in Portlands drinking water from over 90 testing
stations. This is among the key most contributors to Portlands reputation for
clean water. Portland gets its drinking water mostly from two main sources of
freshwater, the Bull Run Watershed, located 26 miles East of Portland in the
Sandy River Basin, and the Columbia South Shore Well Field located under
Portland and its surrounding cities. The Bull Run Watershed is the largest
supply of clean drinking water in Oregon, flowing into two reservoirs
collectively holding 17 billion gallons of water before moving through three
channels and reaching the city limits. The water flows purely on gravity, all
moving downhill towards Portland without the aid of polluting agents such as
fossil fuel based transportation. The protected watershed collects water from
Portlands naturally high rainfall rates from costal air and snowmelt, from the
Mount Hood National Forest, and is completely untouched until reaching the
channels that lead into the city where it is chemically treated and tested. The
Columbia South Shore Well Field is the second largest freshwater supply in
Oregon, supplying near 100 million gallons of water a day of healthy, quality
drinking water. The Well Fields main capacity is as a backup to the Bull Run,
should it ever not meet the demand of the city, as well as providing extra
water during the warmer summers and times of drought. With the two
largest freshwater sources in all of Oregon just on Portlands doorstep,
theres no question as to why the Pacific Northwest has the reputation for the
quality, consistent drinking water its known for.

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As of recently, a controversy has erupted about the quality of

Portlands drinking water. Some deem the chemicals put in the water to treat
it as unhealthy or dangerous, and refuse to drink it, opting for bottled
water instead. In other regions like South Dakota and several central states
this is true, where the freshwater is anything but fresh, however in Western
Oregon, natural drinking water is cleaner and more regulated than bottled
water. Bottled water in many places around the globe is sought after due to
regional shortages of freshwater around the world. Places like Mexico and
Central America have lower quality drinking water and residents are actually
advised to opt to drink bottled water or even carbonated or alcoholic
beverages such as Pepsi or beer instead of their ground and rainwater. The
chemicals and metals in Portlands water are even cleaner and purer than
national standards, and are in our water purely for taste and because
drinking water naturally needs miniscule amounts of certain metals to be
drinkable. With natural rainwater collected from the cleanest and most
protected streams in the Pacific Northwest, and hundreds of thousands of
tests spanning over 90 testing stations, searching for over 200 controlled
and uncontrolled contaminants, Portlands drinking water is among the
cleanest in the nation, making it a desirable target for bottled water
companies to settle down.
Another reason the Pacific Northwest is such a desirable location is
because of its high natural rainfall rates. Portland and much of the Pacific
Northwest is just west of the Cascade Mountain Range and just east of the

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Pacific Ocean, pinning it between the cool, moist air from the sea, and the
mountain range that stops it. Moist air from the coast drifts in at a constant
flow and moves eastward, where it eventually encounters the Cascades
where it hits the mountain and precipitates when it encounters the dry air
from the east. When looking at a precipitation map of Oregon, there is a
distinct barrier between the east and western regions of Oregon: The
Cascade mountains. Anything east of the mountain range is dry, and filled
with plains and deserts, as it receives no cool air from the coast. This region
of Oregon is much different from the rest of Oregon, with little rainfall and
fewer freshwater sources. The constant moist air from the coast moving over
Portland and stopping at the mountain range creates a constant mist-like
effect, covering Portland in light showers all year long. The water from the
coast precipitates in the lush forest area of the Cascade Locks, located just
between Portland and Mount Hood, and flows into channels such as the Bull
Run Watershed, Oxbow Springs, and many more. This water then runs
downhill towards Portland, where the city and all of its subsidiaries gather it
as fresh drinking water. The moist air from the Coast is both the provider of
Portlands rainfall, and the main source for Portlands drinking water. This
cycle puts Portland in a nearly endless supply of rain and drinking water, so
long as the coast supplies moist air.
Portland may not be the top in the nation for annual rainfall in inches
that title belongs to Hawaiibut Portland is top in the nation for the
longevity of its rain. With light showers nearly every day, Portland has grown

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accustomed to the rain. Light showers are in nearly every weeks weather
predictions, and it seems the ground is always wet. Most residents arent
afraid of getting a little wet, opting for a simple rain jacket, and heading off
into the light showers without putting much thought into it. Though high
rainfall rates make for good farming and a good supply of freshwater, there
are dangers presented by Portlands constantly cloudy skies.
The naturally high rainfall and cloudy skies of the Pacific Northwest
comes at a cost. Residents of Portland are warned of the possibility to be
exposed to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) due to Portlands constant
cloudy skies and lack of sunlight. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of
depression brought forth by the seasons, typically observed in the fall and
winter when sunlight is scarce. Because of this, Portland is ranked among the
top in the nation for suicide rates, as cloudy skies are the norm for everyday
Portland life. Oregon is the frontrunner on research on Seasonal Affective
Disorder due to the low sunlight and dark skies, and every day scientists get
closer to understanding how to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder and how it
affects our brains. Seasonal Affective Disorder has received a lot of attention
in the media over the last few years, but now attention is being drawn to a
new issue facing the Pacific Northwest.
In the summer and fall of 2015, Portland and much of the Pacific
Northwest fell into a drought. The coastal clouds and moisture Portland
depended on so dearly for water dried up, and the entire Pacific Northwest
was faced with a serious problem. With no rainfall, the Bull Run levels fell low

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fast, and Portlands main water had to come from the groundwater provided
from the Columbia South Shore Well Field for the longest recorded drought in
Oregons history, and the hottest recorded year in history. Portland came
very close to running out of water entirely, but in the late months of 2015, in
just three days time the Bull Run Watershed was filled up from the first rains
since the drought. In a personal interview with Water Bureau employee Bob
Goldie, Mr. Goldie remarks It just filled up, just like that (Goldie). He
continues to say: For months we relied on well water to supply the city until
the rains came. Normally wed run the pipes every month or so to test flow,
but not during that summer (Goldie). The levels of water got so low to the
point that they couldnt even run quality tests during the summer because
there wasnt enough water to test. Functions since then have returned to
normal, but it has become very evident of Portlands dependence on the
coast for providing constant cool air.
Concerns from locals regarding Portlands drought were met by less
than eager remarks from the city. In a personal interview with Water Bureau
employee Bob Goldie, concerning the drought, he said The temperatures
were such that we could see it coming (Goldie). Normally the summer heat
brings rainfall levels down for a few months as expected, but as Mr. Goldie
says, it lasted far longer than any other summer drought and it came as a
surprise to us (Goldie). He continues,
The Water Bureau is prepared for times of drought, thats why we
implemented the well fields, but costs to run the well fields are high for

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the city. The Bull Run operates on gravity, but the wells require
electricity and maintenance to get to the city, which drew prices up.
(Goldie)
The city had anticipated the drought and was still thrown off by how long it
would last and how large of an impact it would have on the Pacific Northwest.
With rumors of Nestl trying to buy the rights to the water of Oxbow Springs,
water that was affected by the massive drought, and concerned citizens
worrying about possible droughts in the future, citizens grew less welcome to
Nestl.
All of the land that surrounds the freshwater channels and reservoirs in
Oregon such as the Bull Run Watershed, Oxbow Springs, and Cascade Locks,
are protected by the National and State Governments, as well as the City of
Portland, preventing anybody from privatizing public resources. However,
this protection doesnt stop corporations from trying to buy property rights to
land on the rivers and channels. One such case is Nestl. Nestl is trying to
buy the rights to the water of Oxbow springs to bottle their water. According
to Oregon State University professor Todd Jarvis, Nestl capitalize on the
perception that spring water is healthier, that its healing water (House, 1).
Nestl is using the public to both generate demand by advertising their
water as healing water, and providing the supply by purchasing gallon-forgallon trading rights with the state of Oregon and the city of Cascade Locks,
located just east of Portland. These permits that Nestl has been trying for
months to acquire have recently been dropped, and now instead they are

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trying to reduce their waiting and processing time by half by trying to trade
the legal right to the water with the state. This presents a huge issue that
the Pacific Northwest is fighting to resolve.
The main problem with companies like Nestl purchasing the rights to
put a bottling factory in Oxbow Springs is the privatization of public
resources. The issue with privatizing public resources is that eventually the
corporations own enough of the shares that they can ask for whatever price
they want for their water, driving prices up and up. One can see this
happening today with the case against Martin Shkreli and the price gouging
on his privatized life-saving drugs. He drove prices for his life saving
medications up 5000%. The public outlash at Shkerli was enormous, landing
him the title of most hated man in America (Thomas, Who is Martin
Shkreli the most hated man in America?). Nestl, much like Shkreli, is
getting a lot of attention from their request to bottle Oxbow Springs water.
In September of 2015, four Native American Columbia River Tribes
rallied at the state capitol for Governor Kate Brown to protest Nestls
proposed plan. The tribes stood together and protested for the state to
respect their right to fish on the land and to keep Nestl out. In the protest,
Warm Springs Chief Johnny Jackson said:
We were always taught, when we were young, to have great respect
and care of our springs of the mountains. It is a part of us and we are a
part of it. It is not for us to give away. Its spiritual and sacred to our

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people. The White man calls it a useable resource and thats all it is to
them. (Columbia River Tribes Rally at Oregon Capitol to Protest Nestl
Water Grab)
The protest was a follow up to the tribes letter to Governor Brown detailing
their concern about the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlifes negotiation
to sell off water to be bottled by the multinational company Nestl. They
urged Governor Brown to take action because the tribes were aware they
were unequipped to be involved in the case with Nestl. Both local residents
and Native tribes people agree that Nestls occupation would have negative
impacts on local functions in both water consumption by local residents and
would interrupt natural fish routes and lifespans.
Without a doubt, implementing the Nestl water bottling factory would
negatively impact both residents and native tribes people of the Pacific
Northwest alike. Protestor Anna Mae Leonard lead a fasting in tandem with
the protest at Salem, rallying attention to the needs of the people. Hundreds
of tribes people agree with Leonards remarks on the deal with Nestl,
claiming The Transfer of water rights, inherently violates the Treaty of 1855
between the United States and the Four Columbia River Tribes (Columbia
River Tribes Rally at Oregon Capitol to Protest Nestl Water Grab). This
treaty isnt the only concern shared amongst the locals. The local tribes
people are supposed to have reigning water rights, as Skeweackus, a Warm
Springs tribal member says, The tribes are supposed to have Senior Water
Rights (...) We have to have enough water to sustain the fish species; the

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salmon runs (Columbia River Tribes Rally at Oregon Capitol in Protest

Nestl Water Grab). The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlifes change in
water rights would make all water, tribal or otherwise, available to Nestl.
This action by the Department of Fish and Wildlife comes as a sign of
ignoring the native people, as Wilbur Slockish, a Klickitat Chief said in
regards to the deal with Nestl, The People, the salmon and our natural food
supply we are trying to survive your economic policies. We are tired of
being the invisible people (Columbia River Tribes Rally at Oregon Capitol in
Protest Nestl Water Grab). The Department of Fish and Wildlife are losing
focus on their duty to the fish and wildlife, as well as their duties to their
citizens and tribes, and are instead focusing on making money. On behalf of
the native and local residents alike, groups have since formed to make the
issues brought forth by the deal with Nestl to light.
Though Nestl is negotiating with the State and City officials get the
rights to the Oxbow springs water, their campaign isnt going unnoticed by
the community. Organizations and websites have arisen to keep Nestl out of
Oregon, and late last year one of the leading organizations, Local Water
Alliance (LWA) has collected over 1,600 signatures in a month against
Nestls proposal, three times the necessary amount to bring an issue to the
ballot. This action certified that the Hood River County Protection Measure, a
measure that would stop Nestl and any future corporations from
commercially bottling water in the county, goes to the public for voting.
Backers of the Local Water Alliance argue that it makes no sense to dish out

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water after the drought Oregon faced in the fall last year. Citizens regardless
of their political beliefs rally under the LWA banner, as Campaign director for
the Local Water Alliance Aurora del Val puts it, It has been fantastic to see
all the support for this measure from people across the political spectrum
(Campaign Submits Triple the Signatures Needed to Qualify Hood River
County Ballot Measure Targeting Nestl Project & Commercial Water Bottling
1). People from all backgrounds and ideals believe that the water of the
Cascade Locks deserves to be untouched, and realize the importance of
natural water. Hood River business owner Michael Barthmus had this to say
about the petition: It was an easy petition to get people to sign because
most people understand that water is a resource and basic human need, and
not a commodity to be exploited (Campaign Submits Triple the Signatures
Needed to Qualify Hood River County Ballot Measure Targeting Nestl Project
& Commercial Water Bottling 1). The public agrees that the water of Oxbow
Springs and all of Oregon belongs to the locals and to nature, not to
multinational corporations like Nestl, where it will be sold in plastic bottles
and shipped on the backs of trucks. This campaigning act is just one of many
measures the public is taking to ensure the protection of Oregons water.
Nestls proposal promises to open up over fifty jobs for locals at
Oxbow Springs to work at their factory, and offers a substantial payout to the
city and to the state. Even with the job offerings and revenue, the deal with
Nestl is still unwelcomed by the community of Oxbow Springs. According to
data from the Local Water Alliance, there is no credible way the Nestl

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project could be found to be in the public interest (Governor Kate Brown

Takes Action To Change Course on Nestl Water Bottling Plan). Since the
outcry from the community, with both protests and petitions, Governor Kate
Brown sent a letter to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife asking that
they change their current water rights deal with Nestl and put it in the
public interest where it would be voted on. With regards to Governor Browns
letter, Aurora del Val, Campaign director for the Local Water Alliance
commented,
While the return of a public interest review is positive, we do wish
Governor Brown would halt the States negotiations with Nestl and
come out in favor of protecting counties in drought from plans by
Nestl and other corporations to take our limited water supply out of
our county in plastic bottles. (Governor Kate Brown Takes Action To
Change Course on Nestl Water Bottling Plan)
The people are done dealing with Nestl and are ready come election day to
get Nestl out of the gorge. Members of the Local Water Alliance agree that
Nestl isnt favored in the public eye, even with the potential job offerings,
and according to del Val, its obviously not in the public interest to export
over a hundred million gallons of water a year from a county with a formal
drought designation (Governor Kate Brown Takes Action To Change Course
on Nestl Water Bottling Plan). The public has spoken, and the government
has taken action by putting the decision to the polls in the oncoming
election. With the decision now in the hands of the people, the arrangement

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with Nestl appears to be coming to a close, and the people of the Pacific
Northwest can continue utilizing their natural freshwater in peace.
The Pacific Northwest is known for its water, both drinking water, and
its never ending rain. With the costal air bringing light showers, and the
Cascade mountains stopping the cool air causing it to precipitate into
channels and rivers, the Pacific Northwest is right in the perfect place for
both constant, low yield rainfall, and clear, quality drinking water. Costal
rainwater flowing into the Cascade Locks in the Pacific Northwest grants the
Pacific Northwest nearly an endless supply of rain, so long as the coast
continues to provide cool air. Without this abundance of water, Portland
would look much like eastern Oregon; dry, and devoid of lush, moist forests.
A recent drought has brought attention to the efforts made by Nestl to
bottle water in the Pacific Northwest. This attempted privatization of a public
resource fresh off the cusp of a drought brought the community together in
an outrage, with groups and websites forming with the sole purpose of
keeping Nestl out of the Pacific Northwest. Organizations like the Local
Water Alliance brought a voice to the tribes people of the Pacific Northwest,
and to the citizens of Cascade Locks, bringing forth action by the state
government to address the deal brokered between Nestl and the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife, and bring the decision on whether the lands
should be protected or not to the people. Based on estimations from the
Local Water Alliance, and the feelings expressed by citizens and natives
alike, Nestl will be out of the gorge come next election, but as freshwater

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becomes more scarce, the Nestl deal will mark the beginning of a new age
of freshwater consumerism, and the Pacific Northwest will never be the
same.

Bibliography
"Average Annual Precipitation for Oregon." Average Yearly Precipitation for
Oregon. Web. 09
Feb. 2016. <https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Oregon/averageyearly-precipitation.php>.

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Campaign Submits Triple the Signatures Needed to Qualify Hood River

County Ballot Measure
Targeting Nestl Project & Commercial Water Bottling." Keep Nestle
Out Of The Gorge. Web. 19 Feb. 2016
"Columbia River Tribes Rally at Oregon Capitol to Protest Nestl Water Grab."
Keep Nestle Out
Of The Gorge. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
Goldie, Bob. Private interview, Feb. 27. 2016
"Governor Kate Brown Takes Action To Change Course on Nestl Water
Bottling Plan." Keep
Nestle Out Of The Gorge. Web. 19 Feb. 2016
House, Kelly. Oregonian/OregonLive. "Bottled Water Wars: Nestle's Latest
Move in Cascade
Locks Sparks Outcry from Opponents." Oregonlive. Oregonian. Web. 09
Feb. 2016.
House, Kelly. Oregonian/OregonLive. "Nestle Critics Expecting Battle over
Anti-bottled
Water Ballot Initiative." Oregonlive. The Oregonian. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
"Nestle Water Bottling Proposal." Nestle Water Bottling Proposal. Web. 09
Feb. 2016.

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"The City of Portland, Oregon." Water Quality RSS. City of Portland. Web. 06
Feb. 2016.
<https://www.portlandoregon.gov/water/29337>.
"Who Is Martin Shkreli - 'the Most Hated Man in America'? - BBC News." BBC
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Feb. 2016.