State closes I-5 southbound at Rose Quarter for 5 weeks starting Sept. 11

Plan for major delays. More at i5rosequarter.org. Visit Shift Your Trip to keep Portland moving.

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Services, guides, and information

31 services and resources found

2020 Stormwater Management Manual

Manual
The 2025 Stormwater Management Manual (SWMM) has replaced the 2020 manual. The manual sets City policy and design requirements for stormwater management on all development, redevelopment, and improvement projects on both public and private property in Portland.

About Downtown-Old Town Sewer Repair Program

Information
The Downtown-Old Town Sewer Repair Program is a multi-year and multi-million-dollar investment to assess the condition and capacity of the aging public sewer system serving Portland's Downtown and Old Town neighborhoods and to construct the necessary repairs and upgrades.

About the Secondary Treatment Expansion Program

Information
The Secondary Treatment Expansion Program is the largest upgrade to the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant since the 1970s. The $515 million project enhances the plant's resilience, protects water quality, and provides healthier and effective work environments for essential workers.

Artwork for sewer and stormwater construction projects for contractors

Information
Contractors working on construction projects for the Bureau of Environmental Services are required to post the following signage at the construction site as described in their contract documents.

Basement Moisture Survey

External resource
Many things can cause moisture problems in basements. Your responses to this survey help Environmental Services identify areas where sewers have backed up or areas where groundwater has seeped into basements. This can help inform our work to manage stormwater throughout the city.

Cured-in-Place-Pipe Lining (CIPP)

Information
Cured-in-Place-Pipe Lining (CIPP) is a trenchless method of sewer construction. It requires little or no digging and significantly less time to complete than other sewer repair methods. It is suitable for repairing both short and long runs of pipes that do not need to be upsized. 

Engineering Resources for Sewer, Stormwater, and Watershed Restoration Projects

Information
Find manuals, standards, and other technical resources to use when working on sewer, stormwater, and watershed projects within the City of Portland.

Enroll in the Submeter Program

Service
To be eligible to participate in the Environmental Services Submeter Program a business must submit a completed application.

Environmental Services AutoCAD Files for Sewer, Stormwater, and Watershed Projects

Information
These CAD tools and templates are used with City of Portland sewer, stormwater, and watershed restoration projects. For wastewater treatment and pump system project tools and templates, contact the CAD Lead identified on this page.

Environmental Services Construction Products List

Information
In addition to Portland's bureaus of Transportation and Water, Environmental Services maintains a list of approved, commonly-used construction products for use within the public right-of-way. Find the current list and learn more about the construction product approval process.

Find Environmental Services Projects

Information
Environmental Services has sewer, stormwater, and watershed restoration projects throughout Portland. These projects could be in either planning, design, or construction. Locate projects using the map below.

Grouting

Information
Grouting is a trenchless construction method used to stop leaks in sewer pipes and maintenance access holes without having to do more complex and costly structural repairs. It is effective in repairing leaky pipes and joints, sealing small cracks, and filling voids in the soil outside of pipes.

Guide to the Submeter Program

Guide
The Submeter Program is for business customers who discharge a volume of water to the sewer significantly more or less than the incoming water. Customers install submeters on their business’ internal plumbing to accurately measure and bill for water that is discharged to the sewer.

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)

Information
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a trenchless method of sewer construction. It is suitable for soft to hard clays, wet soils, and environmentally sensitive areas. This method avoids having to dig large pits to install jacking and boring machines.

Jack and Bore

Information
Jack and Bore is a trenchless method of sewer construction. It is suitable for installing short pipe runs in stable and dry soils without large boulders.

Manufacturing Standards for Precast Concrete Products

Manual
The Bureau of Environmental Services maintains the Manufacturing Standards for Precast Concrete Products manual. The manual covers the requirements for the manufacture of precast concrete pipe, maintenance holes, and inlets for use in City of Portland infrastructure projects.

Microtunneling

Information
Microtunneling is a trenchless method of sewer construction. It is effective in soft, unstable, and wet soils and can crush large boulders. The tunneling process is remotely controlled and can be used to install larger diameter pipes and longer pipe runs than the Jack and Bore method.

Open Trench Excavation

Information
Open Trench Excavation is the traditional method of sewer construction and the most common method for replacing a sewer pipe, especially if the original pipe needs to be upsized.

Pilot Tube Microtunneling

Information
Pilot Tube Microtunneling is a trenchless method of sewer construction. It is effective where pinpoint accuracy is needed for the line and the grade of the sewer pipe installation—where several underground utility lines exist in close proximity, for example.

Pipe Bursting

Information
Pipe Bursting is a trenchless method of sewer construction. It is an alternative to the Open Trench Excavation method that allows for replacing or upsizing an existing pipe without the need for a traditional construction trench.

Pipe Reaming

Information
Pipe Reaming is a trenchless method of sewer construction. It allows for replacing or upsizing an existing pipe without the need for an excavated open trench. It is used to remove underground sewer pipes while simultaneously installing new pipes.

Pre-Construction Activities

Information
During the project design process, crews will be in the neighborhood conducting various investigations to collect information that will help them determine what pipes need to be repaired and what construction methods should be used.

Sewer and Drainage Facilities Design Manual

Manual
The Sewer and Drainage Facilities Design Manual is maintained by the Bureau of Environmental Services and provides information for City staff, consultants, contractors, designers, and others who plan, design, construct, review, and approve sewer and drainage facilities for the City of Portland.

Sewer Construction Methods

Guide
Environmental Services repairs more than 50,000 feet of pipe each year using a variety of sewer construction methods. Each method creates different levels of noise and disruption to neighborhood activities. Learn more about sewer construction methods.

Sewer, stormwater, water, and other utility rates and charges

Rates
Your City of Portland utility bill includes charges that pay for sewer, stormwater, and water services and for flood safety infrastructure. Most rates increase each July 1. This page lists the current rates and explains how we calculate your charges.

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