The Regional Water Providers Consortium was formed in 1996 by Intergovernmental Agreement to coordinate the implementation of the Regional Water Supply Plan for the Portland Metropolitan Area. The Regional Water Supply Plan is the region's water supply strategy. The Consortium provides a forum for collaboration on water supply, resource management and conservation issues affecting the region. Currently, there are 22 water providers and Metro in the Consortium. Participation in the Consortium is voluntary and is funded through membership dues.
Water providers retain full authority to manage their individual water systems.
The Consortium has many functions, including implementation of the Regional Water Supply Plan, intergovernmental coordination, source water protection strategy development and implementation, water conservation program implementation, emergency planning and response coordination, and public education. The Consortium is made up of a Board, Executive Committee, Technical Committee and Subcommittee and a Conservation Committee. The City of Portland provides staffing to the Consortium under a separate Intergovernmental Agreement. The Regional Water Providers Consortium serves as a collaborative and coordinating organization to improve the planning and management of municipal water supplies in the Portland metropolitan region. We take ownership of and coordinate the implementation and revision of the Regional Water Supply Plan as the agencies directly responsible for providing water supplies to customers.