Fund Water Infrastructure in Warm Springs

by | May 21, 2025 | The Next Right Step

Deadline to write: June 13
Target: Capital Construction Subcommittee Co-Chairs Girod and Nosse and Joint Ways & Means Committee Co-Chairs Lieber and Sanchez

 

Background: The Oregon legislature can consider and include in their budget needed funding for repairs and improvements for the water filtration system for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

There are continual line breaks and boil-water notices on the reservation, and water has–for many years–not been trusted among residents there. In solidarity with the indigenous inhabitants of the land that is now called Central Oregon, we can advocate for needed improvements and repairs.

Please send your letter to the following addresses. A script (please adapt) is below.

Sen.FredGirod@oregonlegislature.gov, Rep.RobNosse@oregonlegislature.gov, Sen.KateLieber@oregonlegislature.gov, Rep.TawnaSanchez@oregonlegislature.gov

Sample letter:

Hello, my name is Rev. Erika Spaet, and I am a resident of Bend. I write alongside other Central Oregon residents and people in my congregation–the Storydwelling community–as an act of solidarity and love for our neighbors in Warm Springs. 

I’m writing to advocate for the inclusion of the following budget items in the State of Oregon’s budget:

  • Warm Springs Reservation Water Plant filtration system
    • Water main
    • Water distribution system
  • Warm Springs Reservation new moderate-income housing
  • Warm Springs Reservation commissary project

In particular, I encourage you to fully fund the improvements to the Warm Springs Reservation’s water filtration system.

We know that the people of Warm Springs are the original inhabitants of the place I now call home, and which we now call Bend. I have visited the Warm Springs Reservation deliver donations of clean drinking water and connect with TEM staff and volunteers. Due to the age of the Reservation’s water plant, filtration and distribution systems, the system often breaks down due to burst pipes and other maintenance issues. Reservation residents are frequently put on boil water notices. And, understandably, even when there isn’t a boil water notice, residents are wary of trusting the water that flows out of their faucets. In addition, as climate change worsens, wells have been drying up.

Many Warm Springs residents are reliant on donations of clean drinking water. Although TEM limits residents to four gallons of water per family per day, TEM goes through donations very quickly–thousands of gallons a week, especially during the summer.

This situation is untenable. Clean water is a human right. People should be able to trust the water that comes out of their pipes. They shouldn’t have to worry about that water making them sick or making daily trips to TEM to pick up their family’s water supply.

The water crisis has already gone on too long. Please fully fund the repair and replacement of Warm Springs’ water system.

Sincerely,

Rev. Erika Spaet