Portland's Water

INSTRUCTOR INFO

Catherine Howells

chowells@pdx.edu

COURSE CRN

• Spring 2026

  • 63208

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Water is life. Imagine, just for a moment, a world without your tap water. Picture Portland after seven days of empty taps and dry fountains—households struggling, communities in crisis, and daily life at a standstill.

The Portland Water Bureau (PWB) ensures this does not happen by providing safe, clean water to all of our taps 24/7. Join our class for an exclusive tour of the pristine Bull Run watershed and learn from PWB's water infrastructure experts.

Water touches everyone in Portland, and the PWB needs your innovative ideas to help reach all of our communities, especially immigrant and low-income residents. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient and inclusive city and your involvement can make a real difference. Help PSU serve the city.

Course Goals:

We’ll explore every aspect of the drinking water system: from watershed protection to maintaining the 2200 miles of pipes beneath our streets; leveraging GIS technology to navigating water finance. Discover how PWB ensures water quality, undertakes major engineering projects, and prepares for emergencies, including earthquakes.

CONTACT INFO

Catherine Howells, chowells@pdx.edu