SPRINGFIELD – In a joint meeting between the Springfield City Council and Lane County Commissioners on Monday, officials considered a request from Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) to consider a textual amendment that would enable the development of a water treatment plant on land they own in the southern part of Glenwood.

The amendments to the Springfield Development Code and the Glenwood Refinement Plan would allow high-impact public utility facilities in the employment mixed-use district in Glenwood.

Andy Limbird, senior planner for Springfield Development and Public Works, introduced the proposal, saying that it’s not uncommon for such facilities to exist in Glenwood. There is an existing pump station for the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission off of Franklin Boulevard.

EWEB representatives shared the project with the council and explained why it is being considered. Laura Farthing, project manager and principal engineer at EWEB, said the project is critical for EWEB. She said natural disasters like the 2020 Holiday Farm fire and the 2024 ice storm create conflicts for the current water treatment plants, leaving them reliant on standby power with reduced capacity.

“We currently have about one to three days’ worth of storage before Eugene is out of water,” Farthing said. “One of the main goals for us is to make sure that we have a source of water that’s independent from the McKenzie River, that protects us from natural hazards, even in the McKenzie Watershed. It also protects us from contamination.”

She referenced a recent example from last week of contamination when diesel and milk were released into a creek flowing into the Upper McKenzie River after a tanker truck crashed near Belknap Springs.

Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon directed staff to bring the ordinance back as written for adoption on June 1.