The Eugene Water and Electric Board is building the sixth of seven planned emergency water stations, this one near the Eugene YMCA.
The stations are designed to provide a walkable destination for two gallons of water per day for every Eugene resident, in case of a natural disaster.
EWEB engineer Nathan Endicott told KLCC there are very few utilities in the west that are this forward thinking. “EWEB’s kind of a leader in it," he said. "So every time I reach out they’re like, ‘Could you actually provide what you’re doing, because we like what you’re doing.’”
Endicott said a robust, 280-foot deep well has been installed, and work on two concrete structures is starting.
He said disaster readiness also includes personal responsibility. EWEB encourages residents to stock two weeks of food and emergency supplies, and to memorize the location of the nearest water station. If the emergency stations are activated, residents will be expected to bring their own water containers.
Construction of the final emergency water station at Churchill High School is expected to start this summer. EWEB has budgeted $2.6 million for the entire emergency water station program.
EWEB chose to construct this water station at Amazon Park because of a partnership with the nearby Y. Eugene Family YMCA CEO Brian Steffen said the Y can provide backup power.
“Hundreds of people could be sheltered at the Y," said Steffen. "We also have multiple locker room settings where people can have showers and we have three different kitchen spaces at the new Y where we can provide meals.”
Steffen said the Y could also serve as a reliable hub for emergency responders, because the facility has been built to the highest seismic standards.
A handful of parking spaces at the YMCA will be affected during construction.
The Amazon Park station is expected to be complete by early summer. A public demonstration will follow.
