City of Albany

Albany, Millersburg, and the Dumbeck Lane Water District receive their water from the Santiam River system through two distinct treatment facilities. The Albany-Millersburg plant employs advanced membrane technology to filter Santiam River water, using thin material layers that effectively remove dirt, sand, and harmful microorganisms. This facility can produce up to 12 million gallons of clean water daily.

The Grapevine Street facility utilizes mixed-media filtration technology to process water from the Santiam-Albany Canal, which is fed by the South Santiam River. These specialized filters contain various sizes of sand, anthracite coal, and garnet that trap contaminants. This plant has a daily capacity of approximately 16 million gallons.

After filtration, the water undergoes disinfection to eliminate remaining microorganisms. pH adjustment follows to minimize pipe corrosion, and fluoride is added for dental health benefits. The distribution network includes seven reservoirs, six pumping stations, and roughly 290 miles of pipeline serving Albany, Millersburg, and Dumbeck Lane.

A Source Water Assessment completed by Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality in 2002 for the Vine Street plant identified potential vulnerabilities to sediments, microbiological contaminants, and nutrients. Occasionally, low levels of common pesticides have been detected in source water sampling, though at concentrations far below health concern thresholds. The city encourages responsible pesticide use, especially near waterways. Due to thorough treatment processes, these potential contaminants are unlikely to affect municipal water quality.

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