Bend Municipal Watershed

The City of Bend is proud to provide clean, safe and reliable drinking water to our community. Our main source is fresh surface water from the Bend Municipal Watershed, which flows into our system using gravity. This efficient method helps us deliver high-quality water every day.

During the summer, when water use goes up—primarily for irrigation—we also rely on a second source: groundwater from the Deschutes Aquifer. This backup supply gives us extra security and helps meet the needs of our growing community.

Our water system is supported by long-standing agreements and special use permits, along with regular monitoring to make sure everything stays safe and up to standard. These efforts help protect the water we all depend on.

This strong foundation didn’t happen overnight. Back in 1923, Bend faced a serious water problem. The Deschutes River, which was the main water source at the time, became polluted due to algae blooms in the reservoirs being built upstream. The private company then in charge—Bend Water Power and Light—struggled to navigate the complex legal, engineering and funding requirements needed to find a new water supply.

That’s when the City of Bend stepped in. With the support of the community, the City purchased the water system and created the Bend Municipal Watershed. Since 1926, we’ve worked closely with the U.S. Forest Service to protect and manage this vital resource.

Thanks to that partnership and the community’s commitment, we’ve been able to provide high-quality water for about a century now—and we’re still going strong.