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Testing the Waters: Inside the CWS Water Quality Lab

There's a lot of science involved in treating wastewater and managing stormwater in the uniquely challenging Tualatin River Watershed. A sizable portion of that science takes place in the Clean Water Services Water Quality Laboratory, where chemists perform over 100,000 water quality analyses a year. 
A Clean water services employee adds material into test tubes in the lab onsite.

Fireworks: Keep the Spectacle Out of Storm Drains 

We encourage people to have safe and joyous celebrations, but we also want to protect our slow and sensitive Tualatin River, which is a vital resource to our region. The Tualatin River provides drinking water, agricultural irrigation, and recreation. It’s also home to native wildlife like beavers, turtles, salmon, newts, egrets, and more. Keep these critters in mind when you clean up after using fireworks.  
An image of leftover fireworks on the streets.

Septic or Sewer? Keeping the Watershed Free of Sewage

When you flush your toilet, everything in the bowl should (hopefully) be sent away from your bathroom and your home. For many people in Washington County, those contents head to a water resource recovery facility operated by Clean Water Services. For others, it is held in a septic tank.

Practical, Proactive, People-Centered: Our Blessedly Boring Budget 

Drama and excitement can be fun, but not when it comes to budget and rates planning. You want to know the folks tasked with tackling our region’s long-term water challenges are being as clear-eyed and careful with your hard-earned rate dollars as they are when protecting public health and the environment. 
An Aerial view of Butternut Creek, a tributary to the Tualatin River, with heavy vegetation along the banks of the creek and houses backing up to the water.