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Two of Portland’s open drinking water reservoirs will be shut down, following a recent mandate from the Oregon Health Authority.

Officials representing Mayor Charlie Hales’ office announced Monday that they will disconnect a reservoir at Mount Tabor and one at Washington Park, after an unsuccessful appeal to the OHA. That action was triggered by an unfunded federal mandate (the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, or LT2) that outlaws the use of uncovered reservoirs to store finished drinking water. The rule is intended to reduce the risk of exposure to contaminants.

City officials made numerous attempts to obtain a variance or delay in rule compliance because of cost. OHA refused the latest request in May.

The 75-million-gallon Mount Tabor facility won’t be disconnected until Dec. 31, 2015, when the $138 million Powell Butte reservoir and the $70 million Kelly Butte reservoir are expected to be complete. While one reservoir is being decommissioned at Washington Park, another will be renovated and covered with a reflecting pool.

In the past, the Friends of the Reservoirs advocacy group has contended that replacement projects are wasteful and unnecessary. In lieu of new construction, the group favored the idea of placing synthetic rubber covers over the open-air facilities.

Officials made no mention of the synthetic rubber covers concept, but said they would work with community members to preserve the historic structures at each reservoir. They also claimed that they would “heighten scrutiny of all capital projects and contracts to keep rate increases as low as possible.”