Alderwood Pump Station Relocation and Replacement Project

The Alderwood Pump Station is an existing wastewater pump station located near Portland International Airport in Northeast Portland. It will be decommissioned and replaced with a new pump station near the current site. Increased pumping capacity will accommodate growth and future demands on the sewer system. Improved reliability, access, and safety will protect public health and the environment. 

Project Area

The existing pump station is located at 7201 NE Alderwood Road on the southeast side of the property. The new site is located across from the existing pump station. The new pump station will be located south of a Port of Portland maintenance facility at 7210 NE Alderwood Road on an open grassy area. 

View full size image of The existing pump station is north of Northeast Alderwood Road. The proposed new site is just south, near Northeast Alderwood Road and Northeast 82nd Avenue.

General Schedule

Project design will continue through 2026. The contractor advertisement, bid, and selection process will follow. Construction is anticipated to begin in April of 2027 and take up to two years to complete. 

What to Expect During Soil Sampling

Work hours: Soil sampling will occur on Monday, April 21, 2025, between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.  

Temporary traffic control: Crews will need to work in or near traffic lanes. Please drive with caution and comply with signs and flaggers. Barricades may be temporarily placed to reserve parking for equipment.

Brief periods of noise, dust and mild vibration during drilling: Work will last four to eight hours. The holes will be two to three inches in diameter and will be filled immediately after the drilling is completed.

Project Design Update

Survey and site analysis crews have completed their investigations in the project area. Their activities included inspecting sewer pipes and maintenance access holes, locating and marking underground public and private utilities, surveying the land and taking various ground measurements (elevations and slopes), locating and measuring trees and fences, recovering property monuments, and collecting soil, rock, and groundwater samples. The information collected will help engineers design improvements for the new pump station. 

Engineers have also completed their evaluation of five potential sites for the new pump station. They are working with the Port of Portland to finalize layout of the selected site. They will then proceed to design and construct the new pump station to current standards. 

We Want to Hear from You

Environmental Services will work directly with the Port of Portland and affected property owners, businesses, and hotels throughout the course of the project. Community outreach staff will listen to your suggestions and respond to your concerns. We encourage you to:

• Visit this project webpage regularly for updates.
• With questions or comments, please contact Emily Volpert by email or phone 503-823-6006.
• If you have a question or concern, please be sure to include your name, property address, and project name (Alderwood Pump Station) in your voicemail and email so we can provide you more details about what to expect in front of your property.
• If your basement sewer backs up or your property or street floods, please report it immediately to the City’s Maintenance Operations hotline at 503-823-1700. It is staffed 24/7, all hours and all days.

Pump Station Improvements

Environmental Services is studying design options for many pump station improvements, including:

• Replacing existing pumps and equipment with new pumps in a new wet well.
• Increasing capacity by replacing the entire force main.
• Making the new structure earthquake resistant.
• Constructing an electrical control systems building for mechanical, electrical, and control equipment.
• Adding restroom and green roof to manage stormwater runoff for electrical control systems building.
• Installing a foul air treatment system with a carbon absorption unit and a wet well exhaust fan.
• Installing a standby generator.
• Installing a monopole for mounting radio antennas for communication.
• Constructing a backflow prevention station.
• Providing pump station access for operations and maintenance.
• Providing security and personnel safety features.
• Decommissioning the existing pump station after the new one is completed. 

The existing Alderwood Pump Station will remain operational until the replacement station is commissioned. Commissioning a pump station involves ensuring that the installation is safe and to required specifications, checking all aspects of the pumping system, and training personnel for long-term operation of the new pump station.

Project Background

Alderwood Pump Station is an existing wastewater pump station located near Portland International Airport (PDX) in Northeast Portland at 7201 NE Alderwood Road. The pump station is located on the southeast side of property owned by the Port of Portland (Port) and leased by Sky Chefs. The Port currently owns the pump station, but through an intergovernmental agreement (IGA), the pump station is maintained and operated by the City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services. 

A replacement pump station is needed to resolve the ongoing operational issues and the difficulty of maintaining the pump station in its current location. There is not adequate space available on the existing property for a larger pump station. Therefore, the existing pump station will be decommissioned and replaced with a new pump station in the vicinity of the current site. As part of the project, the City is entering into a new IGA with the Port that will require the Port to fund the pump station replacement project. Following completion of the project, the City of Portland will become the owner and operator of the new Alderwood Pump Station. 

Sign Up for Updates

Sign up for periodic email or text message updates for the Alderwood Pump Station Replacement on GovDelivery. These updates are the best way to stay informed about what’s happening and what to expect. 

This project will help protect the health of the Columbia Slough Watershed.