Salem, OR. — City of Salem staff will begin testing a newly constructed pump station connecting Salem’s water system with the City of Keizer on Jan. 26, as part of preparations for a planned deep drawdown of Detroit Reservoir later this year.
During the multi-day test, both the new and existing interties between Salem and Keizer will be opened and evaluated under conditions similar to those expected during the drawdown. City officials said drinking water will remain safe, though some customers—primarily in west and northeast Salem—may notice a slight difference in taste due to the temporary use of groundwater.
The testing supports resiliency measures approved by the Salem City Council in July, ahead of a deep drawdown directed by a December 2024 Biological Opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Endangered Species Act. The opinion requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to lower Detroit Reservoir to levels not seen since the dam was built more than 70 years ago to improve downstream passage for ESA-protected fish…