Updated 11.21.25
How is the Clean Water Services Board of Directors responding to concerns raised by recent media coverage?
On April 8, 2025 the Board of Directors unanimously approved this Resolution and Order to direct Clean Water Services to audit travel and meal expenditures, review and update policies and plans, restrict executive management team expenditures, evaluate insurance, require training, and direct the Chief Executive Officer to work with the Board on a plan to restore public trust.
What is Clean Water Services?
Clean Water Services (CWS) is a county service district organized under Oregon Revised Statute 451. CWS works with Washington County and 12 partner cities to provide sewer and stormwater services in the urban areas of the Tualatin River Watershed. The CWS Board of Directors is made up of elected officials who also serve as Washington County Commissioners.
Every year, CWS cleans more than 24 billion gallons of Washington County’s used water to near drinking water standards before returning most of the water to the Tualatin River. Because the Tualatin River is so small, slow, and sensitive, CWS operates under some of the most stringent water quality standards and innovative management techniques in the nation. Those standards are set in a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
Why is my water bill so high?
Your “water bill” may be a combination of services. CWS is not a drinking water provider. Your city or Tualatin Valley Water District provides your drinking water and bills you for that service.
If your bill seems unusually high, you may have a leak and may be eligible for a bill adjustment once you detect and fix it. Contact the CWS billing department and your drinking water provider to discuss your bill and your options.
CWS sewer charges pay for sewer pipes, maintenance and construction, and operation of the wastewater treatment plants as well as for the costs associated with the treatment. Those systems need to be in place and maintained to protect public health no matter how much used water you flush or send down the drain. CWS and partner city crews are also responsible for the public drainage system. Learn more about your rates.
How do Clean Water Services rates compare?
CWS does a lot to keep costs in check — like recovering valuable resources from your used water — and has some of the lowest rates in the region. This is despite having to meet some of the strictest environmental regulations in the nation, and despite substantial increases in the costs of chemicals, construction materials, and labor.
As other utilities have steeply increased rates in recent years, CWS’ annual rate increases have remained steady, at about 4% for the average customer.
CWS generates about $16 million annually in non-rate revenue for activities such as fees for septic disposal and disposal of fats, oils, and grease; fertilizer sales; reimbursement from developers; and investment income. This additional revenue is used to offset operational and capital costs to directly benefit ratepayers.
Learn more about rates and billing.
Is Clean Water Services responding to public records requests?
Yes. Clean Water Services provides hundreds and sometimes thousands of pages of records in response to public records requests every week. In addition, a great deal of information is readily available from the Clean Water Services website. Clean Water Services responds to public records requests in accordance with Oregon public records law for providing existing records.
What is Clean Water Insurance Company?
Clean Water Insurance Company is a nonprofit captive insurance company.
How does captive insurance work?
All organizations need to insure against risk. The insurance provided by Clean Water Insurance Company is insurance that Clean Water Services purchases in the normal course of business. For example, captive insurance provides coverage for property, auto and general liability, earthquake, employer liability, and Oregon Paid Family Leave. The insurance premiums are set by an actuary, like other insurance premiums on the commercial market. The difference with a captive insurance company is that in years when there are no losses (when the Clean Water Services premiums it paid are more than the claims it filed) this amount (surplus) is retained to build a reserve for large future claims by CWS or to provide additional insurance for CWS.
How are costs for captive insurance premiums determined?
The insurance premiums are set by an actuary based on things like the type of coverage, risk, and the claims history — just like any other insurance coverage.
What is the benefit of captive insurance?
In years when claims are less than premiums, a private insurance company would take the surplus. With a captive, the surplus can be invested to grow and be available for future catastrophic claims, like earthquake damage that could break pipes or impact sewage treatment plants. A captive insurance company also allows Clean Water Services to have coverage that may not be feasible on the commercial market. Learn more about captive insurance from this presentation and information sheet.
How has Clean Water Insurance Company benefited CWS ratepayers?
Under the captive insurance structure from 2016 to June 30, 2024, the surplus available for future catastrophic losses to the CWS sewerage system grew to $5.4 million.
Why was Hawaii chosen as the first home for the captive insurance company and why is it moving to Arizona?
The 2016 Clean Water Services Board had an independent review to determine the most beneficial states for providing captive insurance and determined that this was Hawaii. Read the 2016 Board Resolution & Order here. This was reviewed independently again in 2022, and again, Hawaii was the most beneficial state.
The Board’s 2025 Resolution & Order 25-5 called for a new domicile review and analysis of the costs and feasibility of moving the domicile. A third-party consultant determined that Arizona is currently the most favored domicile for the Clean Water Insurance Company.
CWS staff presented a re-domestication analysis to the Board in a public work session on October 10, 2025, recommending re-domestication in Arizona. On November 18, 2025, the Board issued Resolution & Order 25-22 directing re-domestication of the captive insurance entity from Hawaii to Arizona.
Is Clean Water Insurance Company regulated?
Yes. Clean Water Insurance Company is currently subject to Hawaii Insurance Commission regulation. An Arizona entity will operate under Arizona laws.
Are Clean Water Services financial records audited?
Yes. Clean Water Services undergoes an outside financial audit annually. The Moss Adams accounting firm has conducted financial audits annually since 2016. The most recent audit begins on page 27 of this PDF.
Are Clean Water Insurance Company financial records audited?
Yes. These records undergo an outside financial audit annually by Accuity, LLP. This PDF represents the most recent financials. Clean Water Insurance Company financial information is also represented in the Clean Water Services audited financial statement.
Are CWS staff compensated by Clean Water Insurance Company?
No. Clean Water Insurance Company does not compensate CWS employees.
Are any of the Clean Water Insurance Company Board members compensated?
No. Clean Water Insurance Company does not compensate its Board.
Why do CWS Board members and staff travel nationally and sometimes internationally?
Leading a wastewater and stormwater utility is a complex endeavor and getting more so year over year. Increasingly stringent regulations, changing climate conditions, resource recovery innovations, technological advancements to solve pollution problems, and more impact the day-to-day work as well as long-range planning. Ensuring our leaders and staff understand and are equipped to address the emerging issues for our industry and organization is critical to our success. To that end, Clean Water Services supports travel to conferences for intensive education and networking opportunities for our Board and employees.
Travel can also be essential to exchanging innovative ideas and approaches within the water sector. For example, in 2021 CWS was selected as one of five leading U.S. public water treatment utilities by the U.S. State Department, in collaboration with the Water Environment Federation (WEF), to partner with water utilities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Smart Cities Network. This kicked off a five-year partnership between CWS and a water utility in Laos. Expenses for CWS’ participation in this program were primarily covered by the federal government. Through the program, CWS representatives visited Laos and representatives of the Laos utility visited our region as part of an effort to share ideas, improve water security, and increase the flow of goods, services, and technologies.
Find more information below about CWS, including our role in the national and international water sector.
Additional resources
A Leader in Water
A World Connected by Shared Water and Wisdom
Clean Water Services At-a-Glance
Our Commitment To You