Large main break causes discolored water, floods Northwest Portland street

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Portland Water Bureau was flooded with calls late Saturday morning after a large water main break caused discolored water in Northwest Portland late Saturday morning.

The break happened at around 11 a.m. at the intersection of Northwest 29th and Northwest 31st Avenues just off of Northwest Yeon Avenue.

The Water Bureau said residents reported seeing the discolored water coming from their faucets as a result.

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While the bureau acknowledged the water is treated, it is not filtered. This means sediment and other organic material from the Bull Run Watershed gets into the city's drinking water system, but it settles on the bottom of the water mains. However, people may see discolored water when the sediment is stirred up during a main break.

Given this, the bureau recommends those observing discolored water rely on their emergency water supply or bottled water at this time.

The bureau is also encouraging anyone affected by the break to not call their emergency dispatch center, as crews are currently responding to the area to fix the main.