Bend, OR—Hydro Flask, the award-winning leader in high-performance, insulated stainless steel flasks, today announced it will be acquired by a subsidiary of Helen of Troy, a leading global consumer products company. Helen of Troy will add Hydro Flask to its strong portfolio of well-recognized and trusted household brands, including innovation- and design-oriented brands such as […]
water
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Water Rights
Conservation efforts questioned
Lawsuits filed by environmental groups against the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and multiple Central Oregon water districts, including the Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID), demand changes to the way the Deschutes River’s water is managed. The environmental groups are using the destruction of habitat of the spotted frog and the federal Endangered Species Act to […]
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A new water feature at Pine Nursery Park—or overactive sprinklers?
Today, we received an email from a reader concerned about the use of water at Pine Nursery Park. Michael Rich, an employee of the U.S. Forest Services (whose local office neighbors the park), took a short video that appears to show sprinklers watering large swaths of pavement and creating ponds in landscaped areas. “I feel […]
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Washington Declares Drought Emergency—Is Oregon Next?
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought emergency today, OPB reports. The emergency status was brought about by low snowpack. Insley said that while the state should have sufficient water for drinking, crops and fish may be threatened, and wild fires are an increased risk. California has already declared a drought emergency. Is Oregon […]
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City Water and Sewer Rates Will Increase in October
City Council voted 4-3 tonight to increase water and sewer rates by 5 and 9 percent effective October 1. The rates were anticipated to increase as of July 1, but Mayor Jim Clinton and Councilors Sally Russell, Doug Knight, and Jodie Barram expressed concerns about hitting ratepayers with the increase before the October 15 end of irrigation […]
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Council Proposes Water and Sewer Rate Increases
Long showers, green lawns, freshly laundered clothes—these are the luxuries that come with affordable water and sewer rates. But what if those rates weren’t so affordable, or if you could save money by using less? In a work session tonight, members of the Budget Committee and City Council discussed possible water and sewer rate increases […]
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City Council Roundup—Nov. 20
Water issues were center stage once again at last night’s city council meeting. During the public work session, council made progress on the Sewer Extra Strength Charge Program—a rate program on hold until December that would charge non-residential customers more based on the strength and flow of their contributions to the sewer system. The Extra […]