Portland’s sewer collection and treatment system includes more than 2,500 miles of sewer pipes. About one-third of those pipes are 80 years old or older.
Environmental Services and our contractors are working throughout Portland neighborhoods to repair and replace critical sections of deteriorating sewer pipes. Timely repairs will protect public health and the environment by reducing the risk of sewage releases to buildings, streets, greenspaces, rivers, and streams.
For some projects, traditional open trench sewer construction is the only feasible construction method available. But when possible, Environmental Services uses trenchless methods such as cured-in-place pipe lining, spiral wound pipe lining, pipe bursting, pipe reaming, horizontal directional drilling, microtunneling, and jack and bore.
Sometimes, projects require a combination of trenchless and open trench construction to repair and replace sewer pipes. Trenchless methods can minimize disruption to sidewalks, curbs, streets, traffic, and other utilities, and reduce impacts on the neighborhood.