Emergency Water Stations

Emergency Water Stations are part of EWEB's emergency preparedness program. They are designed to provide access to safe drinking water if a major emergency disrupts the water system and service cannot be restored quickly.

If a significant event—such as a major earthquake, severe storm, or other disaster—damages water infrastructure, repairs could take days or longer depending on the extent of the damage.

If that happens, EWEB's seven Emergency Water Stations can provide up to two gallons of drinking water per person, per day, helping meet essential needs until regular water service is restored.

Explore this webpage: Prepare Now | Station Locations | How to Disinfect Water | How the Stations Work | Community Demonstrations | Partners

Prepare Now

It can be difficult to remember what to do in an emergency. Complete the following actions now to prepare:

1. Print this webpage, place the printout in a Ziplock/waterproof bag and store it somewhere secure and easy to access in an emergency.
2. Have clean, easy to carry 1 to 2-gallon containers ready to take with you to the emergency water sites for each person in your household.
3. Prepare to disinfect the water once you return home.
4. Develop a water conservation plan during the water outage, such as using hand sanitizer for washing hands instead of water.
5. Prepare to help others in your neighborhood if safe to do so or if you are able to.

Emergency Water Station Locations

There are seven Emergency Water Stations across the City of Eugene. Locate the station nearest your home so you will know where to go in an emergency.

Note: You must bring your own container to fill and disinfect water prior to use. 

Station addresses (view on Google Map):  

• Prairie Mountain School - 5305 Royal Ave. 

• Howard Elementary School - 700 Howard Ave. 

• Eugene Science Center - 2300 Leo Harris Parkway 

• Lane Events Center/Fairgrounds - 796 W 13th Ave. 

• Sheldon Community Center - 2445 Willakenzie Rd. 

• Amazon Park/YMCA – 600 E 24th Ave. 
• Kennedy Middle School - 2200 Bailey Hill Rd.

How to Disinfect Water 

Water from the Emergency Water Station needs to be disinfected before drinking. This is due to the microbiological changes that occur in well water. In order to get the station up and running quickly during an emergency, we wouldn’t have the time to test the water before consumption. You should also disinfect any tap water you store at home before drinking. 

Emergency water can be made safe to drink by:  

• Boiling for one minute, or 

• Adding 1/8 teaspoon of unscented household bleach (label should say it contains between 5-6% of sodium hypochlorite) per gallon and then letting it stand for 30 minutes). Note: It is best to use bleach that is less than one year old as bleach loses potency over time.

How the Stations Work 

Each Emergency Water Station site includes a well and submersible pump to pull water from deep underground and all the equipment needed to distribute water to the public.  Working with community partners, EWEB will mobilize the stations in a water emergency.  Residents must bring their own container to fill and disinfect water prior to use. 

Community Demonstrations

• Upcoming: Howard Elementary School Emergency Water Station Open House, August 29, 2026
• Kennedy Middle School Emergency Water Station Demonstration Event, September 27, 2025
• EWEB Partners with the City and YMCA to Celebrate New Amazon Park Emergency Water Station Site (Sept. 2024)
• Bethel neighbors boost emergency preparedness during Emergency Water Station event (Aug.2023)
• Sheldon area neighbors come out for EWEB’s newest Emergency Water Station (Sept. 2022)
• Community Neighbors Inaugurate Fifth Emergency Water Station at Fairgrounds (June 2022)

Thank you to our Partners  

EWEB’s Emergency Water Station program was made possible through partnerships with many other agencies and organizations. Thank you to all the contributors who have made these stations possible: 

• 4j School District 

• Bethel School District 

• City of Eugene 

• Eugene Family YMCA 

• Eugene Parks Department 

• Eugene Science Center 

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