The certification was awarded to the project’s facility Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC), MWH Constructors and Kiewit Corporation (a joint venture).

Employers that achieve recognition under VPP have demonstrated workplace safety and health programs that excel in all areas, including management leadership, employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, and safety and health training.

“As the former leader of one of the safest trucking workplaces in the nation, I know an achievement like this takes hard work, professionalism, and attention to every detail,” said Portland Mayor Keith Wilson. “The crews building the Bull Run Filtration Project have demonstrated that commitment, and their safety record sets a high standard of excellence for City projects.”

The Filtration Project’s VPP achievement underscores the joint venture’s commitment to a comprehensive safety and health program, alongside an exemplary multiyear record of injury and illness prevention.

A formal certification ceremony was held at the construction site for the filtration facility on Tuesday, October 27. The construction sites for the Bull Run Filtration Project pipelines, which will connect the new filtration facility to the existing water infrastructure with large-diameter pipes, are scheduled to receive their formal VPP certification acknowledgment in late November. Bull Run Conveyance Partners (a joint venture with James W. Fowler Co. and MWH Constructors) is the CM/GC for the pipelines.

Prioritizing a safety-first culture 

At the Bull Run Filtration Facility site, the City of Portland and its construction partners have made safety a priority at every level, from executive leadership to field crews.

“With hundreds of workers performing different jobs across a large construction site, keeping everyone safe requires careful planning, coordination, and attention to potential hazards,” said Millicent Williams, Interim Deputy City Administrator of Public Works. “Achieving VPP Star Site designation demonstrates that we don’t have to choose between ambitious infrastructure goals and exceptional safety. Prioritizing safety keeps workers healthy, projects on schedule, and public funds well-managed.”

Oregon OSHA Administrator Renée Stapleton also praised the team’s collective commitment:

“The evaluation team spoke very highly of your site’s incredible top-to-bottom positive safety culture, which they felt was a hallmark of your successful program. Top management leadership was very active and visibly involved. Your designation as a VPP site is a testament to sustained excellence in all areas of your safety and health management.”

Benefits of a safe worksite

Beyond protecting workers, preventing workplace injuries helps avoid construction delays and unexpected costs, supporting the project’s schedule and the responsible use of public funds.

Construction is inherently high‑risk work, involving heavy machinery, complex power tools, elevated structures, and deep excavations year‑round in Oregon’s variable weather. On a multiyear megaproject, prioritizing safety ensures that the site remains fully staffed and helps prevent compounding delays and costs.

“The Bull Run Filtration Project is an investment in safe, reliable drinking water for generations to come,” said Interim Chief Engineer Muriel Gueissaz‑Teufel. “We’re also investing in the safety of the people making that future possible. By putting safety first, we help ensure workers go home safely every day, reduce costs and delays, and make the most of the public’s investment.”

Nationally, workplace injuries cost the construction industry an estimated $170 billion annually, with an average return‑to‑work timeframe of 12 to 14 weeks following an injury. The construction site for the Bull Run Filtration Facility experienced zero lost-time accidents or injuries over its first three years—a standout achievement for a site of this scale.

Industry data shows that every $1 invested in workplace safety yields $4 to $6 in cost savings. A strong worksite safety record preserves the project schedule while delivering tangible economic benefits:

• Zero work stoppages or lost time due to injuries and illnesses

• Lower insurance premiums and reduced workers’ compensation claims

• Elimination of OSHA penalties and litigation risks

• Higher retention of skilled tradespeople and workers

​​​“There are 485 craft workers out there building this job, and those are the people who made this happen,” said MWH-Kiewit Joint Venture Filtration Facility Construction Manager Tom Paul. “Without them, this generational project would never get built.”

Investing in Portland’s drinking water system 

The Bull Run Filtration Project is a critical investment in the long-term health and reliability of Portland’s drinking water system.

Once complete, the filtration facility will treat 135 million gallons of water per day, removing Cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that can cause illness, as well as sediment, organic material, and other contaminants. These improvements will help provide consistent, high-quality drinking water for nearly 840,000 people across the region.

The project also includes seismically resilient pipelines that will connect the facility to the City’s existing water distribution system while retiring aging pipeline segments. Construction is on track for completion by September 2029.

For more information about the Bull Run Filtration Project, visit portland.gov/About-Filtration.

See our digital assets, including a video of the certification ceremony.

About the Portland Water Bureau

The Portland Water Bureau serves water to almost 860,000 people in the Portland area. Portland’s water system includes two water sources, 54 tanks and reservoirs, and 2,250 miles of pipe. With 500 employees working on everything from water treatment to customer service, the Water Bureau is committed to serving excellent water every minute of every day.