Public Utilities Director Ting Lu Placed on Paid Leave
The city official has been placed on leave just months after starting the role created by the One Water initiative.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Utilities
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Portland public utilities director Ting Lu has been placed on paid leave, a move confirmed by a city spokesperson. The decision follows a recent leadership shift within the city's administrative ranks.
Why it matters
Lu leads the consolidated public utilities department created by the One Water initiative, which merged the Portland Water Bureau and the Bureau of Environmental Services. This administrative change marks a significant update to the city's utility management structure.
Former deputy city administrator Priya Dhanapal received $221,000 in severance following her departure. The reasons for director Ting Lu's current leave status remain unknown.
The players
Ting Lu
The director of public utilities who was placed on paid leave.
Millicent Williams
The City Administrator who informed city leaders of the leadership change.
Priya Dhanapal
The former deputy city administrator of public works who recently received severance.
The details
City Administrator Millicent Williams notified city leaders of the change in an email, which a spokesperson later confirmed. Lu, who previously served as the deputy director of the environmental services bureau, was appointed to the utilities director role in January 2026. The position was newly created to oversee the combined operations of the city's water and environmental services bureaus.
Timeline
2024: Priya Dhanapal began serving as deputy city administrator.
January 2026: Ting Lu began serving as director of public utilities.
October 2026: Ting Lu was placed on paid leave.
Beyond the Bridges
This leave announcement involves the central leadership position created by the One Water initiative. The initiative consolidated the Portland Water Bureau and the Bureau of Environmental Services into a single utility department.
Residents should monitor city utility communications for any changes in service delivery or leadership updates. No immediate changes to water billing or environmental services have been announced.
The takeaway
Portlanders should keep an eye on official City Administrator communications regarding the stability of the new consolidated utility department. Watch for further statements to see how the bureau manages its operations while the director is on leave.
Further reading
For updates on how the city manages its infrastructure, see the Utilities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Willamette Week.
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