NE 105th and Marx Pump Station Replacement Project

Sewer and Stormwater

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Environmental Services is designing a project to replace the aging pump station located at NE Marx Street and 105th Avenue in the Parkrose neighborhood. The project will modernize equipment, increase system capacity, and help protect public health and the environment.

The project is in the design phase. Construction is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2026 and it will take about two years to complete.

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Project Area

The existing pump station is located on NE 105th Avenue north of NE Marx Street. The City of Portland has acquired a property North of the existing pump station (at 5635 NE 105th) where we will construct the new pump station. The new location has plenty of space for the upgraded pump station to be installed and will provide safe parking for BES Operations and Maintenance needs.

NE 105th and Marx Pump Station Replacement Location

What’s Happening Now

The project is currently in the design phase. Construction is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2026 and take about two years to complete.Throughout the design process, project team members will visit the area and collect information via survey, locating underground utilities, and taking soil samples. To prepare for construction, crews will demolish an existing storage structure at 5635 NE 105^th and secure the site until project work begins. Activities will be limited to the existing pump station, property at 5635 NE 105^th, and the immediate surroundings.

We Want to Hear from You

Environmental Services will inform businesses and residents about project activities and respond to questions and concerns in a timely manner. Please let us know if you have concerns such as business operations, local access, delivery routes and schedules, or other concerns. 

Project Background

The new pump station will feature modern equipment and controls that meet current and future demand on the public sewer system.

Key upgrades include:

New mechanical and electrical components
New electrical and controls building
New wet well with submersible pumps
New permanent standby generator

What is a Pump Station?

Sewage, which is 99 percent water, flows downhill, and gravity is the main force that moves sewage through pipes. However, in low-elevation areas or where sewage needs to go uphill, pump stations push the sewage up so that gravity can take over again. Portland has nearly 100 pump stations with large underground tanks (also known as wet wells) in low-elevation areas. Pump stations are equipped with specialized pipes that are built to handle the force of sewage being pushed through them. Pump stations also have equipment that helps control odor and protects the pumps.

How do we take care of Pump Stations?

Pump stations require periodic maintenance and upgrades to help accommodate growth and future demands on the sewer system. Modernization of mechanical, electrical, and other control systems improves pump station reliability, operation, and safety, which in turn protects public health and the environment. In Portland, operators at the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant monitor the City’s pump stations remotely to ensure proper functionality. They can quickly respond to emergencies like power outages or pump blockages.

Visit the About our Sewer System webpage to learn more about how pump stations fit into the larger public sewer and wastewater system.

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