As a sewer and stormwater utility, Clean Water Services helps protect public health and the future of the Tualatin River and everyone who depends on it. A significant portion of ratepayer investment goes towards maintaining critical infrastructure and planning for the region’s future growth.
CWS teams work diligently to ensure full compliance with our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, issued under the Clean Water Act. The NPDES permit combines requirements for our four water resource recovery facilities and our Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4), allowing us to manage water quality holistically across the watershed.
CWS carefully and strategically plans projects to ensure that every investment of ratepayer dollars supports the community with intention, long-term value, and environmental sustainability.
Examples of Our Work
Clean Water Services serves over 600,000 residences and businesses in Washington County. Visit our project portal for current information on projects happening throughout our service area.
Capital Improvement Projects (CIP)
Capital improvement projects, also called CIPs, are large-scale, long-term investments in permanent infrastructure. These projects are necessary to ensure we can continue to provide reliable, efficient, and sustainable sanitary sewer and stormwater services for the growing community. Infrastructure built in the 1970s cannot accommodate the projected population of 2070. CWS carefully plans when and where CIPs need to happen, to ensure the people who work and live in Washington County can rely on sewer and stormwater services for years to come.
CIPs may look different across the watershed, and may include:
- Treatment facility upgrades, such as adding a new digester, clarifier, or major equipment necessary for the water treatment process.
- Major infrastructure projects, such as installing new pipelines or replacing a major pipe that carries wastewater to our treatment facilities, or stormwater to local waterways.
- Installing or upgrading pump stations, which are used to carry wastewater uphill.
A current example of a CIP is the Durham Digester Project.
While not always considered Capital Improvement Projects, local infrastructure projects including Reimbursement Districts (RDs), Sanitary Local Improvement Districts, and Stormwater Local Improvement Districts (LIDs) are included in our project portal.
Ecological Enhancement
The water Clean Water Services cleans and the water that falls as rain and snow will eventually end up in the small, slow, and sensitive Tualatin River. Because our systems bring water to the Tualatin River, CWS is in part responsible for the river’s health and protection. Many of our wastewater infrastructure relies on gravity, which means they need to be installed near or under creeks and streams. These are some of the many reasons why we incorporate ecological enhancement into some of our infrastructure projects, and why we embark on some projects solely dedicated to water quality. Ecological enhancement work includes:
- Replanting after infrastructure projects
- Bringing back natural stream bends to prevent erosion
- Streamside restoration, such as removing invasive species and planting native species, strengthening embankments to prevent erosion, and improving habitat for wildlife
- Planting shade trees to keep water cool and survivable for aquatic life
- Removing fish barriers
A current example of an ecological enhancement project is Bethany Lake Berm Restoration and Rock Creek Enhancement.
Many ecological enhancement projects are in collaboration with Tree for All.
Routine Maintenance
There are about 2,400 miles of pipes underground in Washington County that carry wastewater from homes and businesses to our treatment facilities, and stormwater to local waterways. That’s enough pipe to reach from Portland to New York City! Clean Water Services also operates and maintains 44 pump stations, plus catch basins, storm drains, vegetated corridors, water quality facilities, and other parts of infrastructure that keep our community safe, clean, and thriving. These systems require staff to conduct routine maintenance every day. That includes cleaning pipes, street sweeping to keep debris out of storm drains, inspecting and replacing aging or damaged parts, and more.
Programs
Not all Clean Water Services projects require shovels in the ground. Every five years, CWS goes through the process of renewing our NPDES permit. This requires collaboration across our partner cities and other stakeholders. CWS also regularly updates our Design & Construction standards, which requires the opportunity for public comment. These types of projects will also appear in our project portal as necessary.