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200 S. Ivy St. - RM 177
Medford, OR 97501
Phone: 541-774-2428
Fax: 541-774-2555
Contact: Brian Runyen, P.E., Engineering Manager
Email: Brian.Runyen@medfo. . .
Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Medford Water Commission

Medford Water Commission - 541.774.2430
Capital Hill Reservoir Replacement Project

Capital Hill Capital Hill Capital Hill Capital Hill Capital Hill

Medford Water will replace Capital Hill’s three aging reservoirs for earthquake resilience by 2030.



Project Description and Benefits
 
 
We want to hear from you!
We want to
hear from you!
We’re in an early phase of design, with construction over a year away. Before we get further along, we want to learn how we can:
  • Reduce construction impacts to you and your neighbors.
  • Design the project not just to safeguard our water supply, but to make your neighborhood a better place.
Please call us at 541-774-2442 or email Yvette here to start a conversation on these issues. You can also sign up for updates on this project below.
Medford’s drinking water depends on the three Capital Hill Reservoirs as the hub of our distribution system. The reservoirs store drinking water brought directly from our primary water source, Big Butte Springs, before it is pushed out into other areas, but they have had nearly 100 years of use.
  • We are replacing the three aging reservoirs with larger, modern tanks.
  • The reservoirs will be rebuilt for earthquake resilience, but we’ll keep them at the same location.
  • This project is key to providing a seismically resilient backbone to our water system that will help us recover quickly from natural disasters and continue to serve our growing region long into the future.
  • The project will take place in phases so that water from Capital Hill will never stop flowing. Initial investigation work began December 2022.
Why here?
  • The Capital Hill Reservoir Facility is at one of the highest points in the city, which helps it to distribute water efficiently to the entire system by gravity.
  • This location also has an extensive network of pipes and infrastructure that all connect here, making it key to Medford’s water supply chain.

Project Map  

The facility is located off of Capital Avenue in east Medford, and bordered by adjacent homes on the west side of the property on Valley View Drive, on the north side on Ridge Way, and the east side of the property by Modoc Avenue, Brentwood Drive, and Girard Drive. 

Below is an illustrated map of the area; to view and download a full-size version, click here.
 
Capital Hill Facility
 
Estimated Project Schedule

We’re in an early phase of research and design, with construction over a year away. To get started, test-drilling around the Capital Hill reservoir site took place in December 2022 to evaluate the sub-surface conditions.
 
Tentative Timeline
 
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Research
Phase
Nov. 2022-
Sep. 2023
                 Design
Phase
Oct. 2023-
Oct. 2024
                         Construction
Phase
Sep. 2024-2027
     
Public Outreach

Related Projects  
 
This project is part of the Rogue Valley Water Supply Resiliency Program, our multi-project effort to modernize and expand our water system for the next century, as well as protect it from emerging threats such as earthquakes, wildfires, and power outages. Learn more about the program here.

Project Updates/News  

Sign up at the bottom of the page to receive email updates; be sure to check your spam folders as these messages can sometimes get filtered.
 
Date   Update
January 2023   To get started, test drilling around the Capital Hill reservoir site took place in December 2022 to evaluate the sub-surface conditions. We welcome feedback from neighborhood residents and want to learn ahead of time how we can mitigate construction impacts and design the project to improve the area. Please use the contact information below, and/or stay tuned for information on how to participate in a project Open House.
     
March 2023   Consultant JLA Public Involvement is supporting our coordination efforts with the public; their team, along with our staff, has been busy speaking with residents around the reservoir site to learn how we can mitigate construction impacts and design the project to improve the area. The feedback gained will help to create plans for outreach and communication, such as hosting an Open House nearby, site signage with updated project information, and providing maps of the existing and future reservoirs. Meanwhile, our engineering team is reviewing reservoir layout concepts and soils onsite, and confirming system operations during the phased construction.
     
April 2023   Medford Water is planning more test drilling (similar to drilling last December) and digging at the Capital Hill Reservoir Site on May 8 and 9th. Information collected from the drilling and digging helps our engineers know how to design the reservoir’s foundations and confirm where the pipes connect. The drilling will be inside the fencing of the property and will occur only during the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some digging may occur near Valley View Drive on Medford Water’s property. No other work is expected on the site for some time (construction work for the reservoirs is not expected to begin until late 2024).
     
May 2023   The first project Open House has been scheduled for June 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Roxy Ann Grange, 1850 Spring Street. The project is still in very early planning stages, and this informal gathering will be a great chance for neighbors to come together and learn more about the project status, and share ideas on ways to reduce disturbances during construction and how the finished site can best serve the neighborhood.
     
June 2023   The first Open House was held June 6; we will use the feedback and suggestions we heard from residents to build the relationships and establish the transparency necessary as this project progresses. A video of the event is available here.
     
November 2023   The planning phase is nearing completion, and we anticipate design to begin shortly. An informational event will be held in the spring of 2024; an update on this event will be provided as soon as possible.

Events
 
Upcoming Events   OPEN HOUSE - June 6, 2023

This event has passed; a video of the event is available here. Additional events will be held as the project progresses.
Upcoming Events   OPEN HOUSE - Date to be determined

Stay tuned for an open house for neighbors in the spring of 2024!

Project Documents & Materials 
 
 
 
Capital Hill Project Fact Sheet
Capital Hill Reservoir Replacement Project Fact Sheet
   
Introduction to the Capital Hill Project Video
Introduction to the Capital Hill Reservoir Replacement Project - VIDEO
   
Capital Hill Open House Video
Capital Hill Reservoir Replacement Project Open House June 2023 - VIDEO


Contact
 
Yvette Finstad
Email | Phone: 541-774-2442


 
Medford Water
Water for the Next Century.


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