Bynum applauds House passage of funding bill with nearly $1 million for Bend to replace aging water pipes

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- The U.S. House on Tuesday approved a funding package that includes over $6 million for Fifth District water infrastructure projects in Rep. Janelle Bynum's home district, including nearly $1 million to replace aging water pipes in Bend.

A City of Bend representative provided KTVZ News with this background from the grant application that detailed city plans for the funds, which still need Senate passage:

"Replacing galvanized pipes along Georgia Avenue will ensure clean drinking water continues to flow to the 21 homes that are connected to this part of the city's water system."

"Replacing these pipes will also improve redundancy of the water system, where identified pipes are 100 times more likely to break than the standard ductile iron pipes the city now uses, per internal analysis. This project will also ensure the adjacent hydrants connected to these pipes meet fire flow requirements."

"The Bend City Council has expressed goals of water conservation and ensuring housing and other critical infrastructure can withstand wildfires. The proposed project will make meaningful steps towards water conservation through a reduction in wasteful pipe leakages and will ensure this part of our community is further protected from the devastating effects of wildfires."

"This funding will save taxpayers money in the long run, as it will enhance the safety, efficiency, and quality of life for residents in adjacent neighborhoods and the community broadly."

"Locating and repairing leaky or broken pipes is expensive and time-consuming. By proactively replacing the pipes with the highest chance of breaking, the city will mitigate future costly repairs and reduce water waste, in the meantime."

"The city will measure performance in several ways, with a primary emphasis on the system's ability to maintain fire flow pressure requirements, drinking water quality over time, and a reduction in water outages in this neighborhood due to damaged water infrastructure."

"The funding requested will be used to purchase 1,250 feet of 8-inch ductile iron pipe, for an estimated cost of $933,400. The remaining $58,850 in requested funds will be used to support a portion of the design updates for the pipes."

"This project compliments our broader effort to replace broken galvanized pipes throughout the city, but it is separate from that general work."

---

Here's the congresswoman's news release on the funding package:

Bynum Advances Over $6 Million for Projects in Oregon’s Fifth District

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-05) voted to advance a package that contains over $6 million in federal funding for water infrastructure projects across Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District.

In July, Congresswoman Bynum fought on behalf of her constituents for over $14 million in Community Project Funding requests to be included in the draft Fiscal Year 2026 government funding bills. Today, funding for six of those projects was included in the Interior and Environment Funding Package that passed the House. This legislation will now go to the Senate, and if passed, to the President for final signature.

“Access to clean drinking water isn’t just essential to keep our communities healthy – it also unlocks more affordable housing and faster, cleaner public transit. That’s why I fought to secure this $6 million for water infrastructure projects in CD5,” said Rep. Bynum. “From Molalla, to Bend, to Halsey, to Oregon City, this money will help grow our economy and improve the lives of Oregonians across the district. I’m committed to bringing real money back home that will make a real difference, and to getting the rest of our projects across the finish line and fully funded.” 

The passage of this legislation would bring the full amount of money Congresswoman Bynum has secured for Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District through Community Project Funding to $8,075,250.

The projects receiving funding include:

• $992,250 for Neighborhood Drinking Water Protection Program
  Recipient Name: City of Bend
  Project Purpose: This project would replace fragile galvanized pipes in Bend to protect drinking water quality and improve water system redundancy. This project will also ensure nearby hydrants can meet fire flow requirements.
  
• $700,000 for Halsey Municipal Water Well and Water Treatment Project
  Recipient Name: City of Halsey
  Project Purpose: This project would finish construction of a new drinking water well in the City of Halsey.
  
• $1,092,000 for Molalla Water Intake Project
  Recipient Name: City of Molalla
  Project Purpose: This project would design and construct a new water intake structure on the Molalla River, the sole-source of Molalla's water rights.
  
• $1,092,000 for Oregon City Water Transmission Main, Phase 3
  Recipient Name: City of Oregon City
  Project Purpose: This project would complete the final phase of Oregon City's Water Transmission Main construction, enhancing the city's water system reliability. By upgrading undersized pipes, these transmission main improvements will resolve inefficiencies, ensuring better performance and responsiveness during high-demand water usage seasons.
  
• $1,092,000 for North Santiam Sewer Project
  Recipient Name: Marion County
  Project Purpose: Funds would help construct the Mill City Water Pollution Control Facility, also referred to as the Mill City – Gates Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will serve the cities of Mill City and Gates – two cities still recovering from devastation of the 2020 wildfires.

• $1,092,000 for Clarifier Replacement Project
  Recipient Name: Oak Lodge Water Services Authority
  Project Purpose: The clarifier replacement project would replace the secondary clarifiers 1 & 2 at the Oak Lodge Water Services wastewater treatment plant, which are approximately 35 years old.