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For decades, water reservoirs 鈥揼rass-colored tanks and stone-built ponds 鈥� have served as neighborhood landmarks on Portland hilltops. But now, some are being replaced because of federal requirements.

The city is planning to construct three new reservoirs 鈥� each much bigger than its predecessor. One project, potentially $70 million, calls for replacement of the Kelly Butte reservoir in Southeast Portland; City Council this week is expected to allocate money for the effort.

鈥淵ou got to understand what reservoirs are for 鈥� they’re not pretty tanks for parks, but more so water storage in an emergency,鈥� said Tim Hall, manager of public information and involvement for the Portland Water Bureau. 鈥淭he old (Kelly Butte) tank doesn’t allow us to meet the storage capacity that we’ve determined is needed to meet emergency demand in the area.鈥�

The bureau started drawing plans for the project in 2006, when the Environmental Protection Agency established the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule; it required additional water treatment for all open-air reservoirs.

EPA officials targeted Portland’s two open-air reservoirs, Mount Tabor and Washington Park, and stated that they had to be equipped with new safety equipment, covered or shut down. City officials determined that adding water filters or covers would be too costly, so the EPA set deadlines: the Mount Tabor reservoir must be shut down by 2015 and Washington Park by 2020.

City officials hoped to extend the deadlines, but soon found that their efforts were futile, Hall said.

鈥淭he bottom line is there is no variance or exemption to the fact that you have to cover your reservoir or treat it at the outlet,鈥� he said. 鈥�(The EPA) said there is no excuse for the city to not meet the deadlines that were established.鈥�

A $138 million Powell Butte reservoir replacement project and the Kelly Butte project are intended to fill the void that will be left when the 75-million-gallon Mount Tabor facility shuts down.

Planning is under way for a third project, replacement of the Washington Park reservoir, which will involve construction of an underground structure.

The new, 25-million-gallon Kelly Butte reservoir will hold 15 million gallons more than the existing one. Hoffman Construction, the project’s general contractor, began preliminary site work on July 1.

Work will include demolition of the existing reservoir 鈥� a $3.5 million endeavor itself 鈥� and site excavation to make room for the new 400-foot-by-300-foot steel structure. Additionally, new piping will be installed around the structure.

However, a local advocacy group, Friends of the Reservoirs, believes the projects are unnecessary. It says they will be a waste of money and destroy historic structures in the process. The city should instead place synthetic rubber covers over the open-air reservoirs, according to Floy Jones, founding member of the group.

The covers would meet EPA standards and provide a long-term solution, she said.

鈥淚t’s common sense that it’s good government versus overengineering,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here’s no comparison in terms of cost savings.鈥�

The city in 2003 planned to add synthetic rubber covers to the Washington Park reservoir. At the time, city officials said they would last up to 25 years. That would be much less expensive than building new tanks, Jones said.

But city officials decided not to move forward with the synthetic rubber covers, Jones said, because they found no health risks associated with open-air reservoirs. She added that she believes the EPA’s rule is inaccurate and should be changed.

In fact, the EPA is re-examining the rule by monitoring its impact on water supplies across the country; a decision will be made in 2016. Friends of the Reservoirs believes the city could hold out until then to make a decision on whether to replace the reservoirs.

鈥淲e support submitting a change compliance strategy, primarily because of the cost,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淏y all accounts, all public health officials agree that there is no risk (from open-air reservoirs) in the community.鈥�

However, the Portland Water Bureau believes replacing the reservoirs is the most cost efficient solution.

鈥淭here are still efforts under way to try to persuade congressional delegators to get the EPA to (change the deadlines), but those haven’t looked very promising,鈥� Hall said. 鈥淲ith the timetables agreed on with the EPA, we needed to start construction now.鈥�

The Kelly Butte and Powell Butte reservoir projects are expected to wrap up by late 2013. The Washington Park project is still in the design phase, but will be completed by 2020.