How do Albany and Millersburg currently get their water?
The drinking water for Albany and Millersburg comes from the South Santiam River. Water is diverted from the river east of Lebanon, and conveyed through an 18-mile-long earthen canal. The canal meanders through the Lebanon urban area and across farmland, crosses major roads and under Interstate 5, then comes through Albany to the Albany water treatment plant at Third Avenue and Vine Street SW. The canal, built in 1872, supplies drinking water for Lebanon, Albany, and Millersburg, as well as water for irrigation and recreation. The treatment plant was constructed in 1911, and has been used continuously since that time, with technology upgrades over the years. The plant can treat about 16 million gallons of water each day (mgd) using conventional filtration.
