Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant Closed to Tours During Construction

Portland’s main wastewater treatment plant will be closed to tours until after Environmental Services completes a major upgrade and expansion project at the plant. Learn more about the Secondary Treatment Expansion Program underway now.

Recovering Resources

Program

The practice of resource recovery transforms waste materials into valuable products. Through the wastewater treatment process, Environmental Services recovers valuable resources like energy—while preparing the water for its return to the water cycle. This helps us create a more sustainable future.

Featured content

Photograph of a City of Portland truck being fueled at an RNG fueling station located at the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant

Poop to Power: Turning Wastewater into Clean Energy

Blue close up photograph of microorganisms

About the Wastewater Treatment Process

Photograph of a large field of grass on a farm with rolling hills in the background against a clear blue sky. There are wind turbines in the distance, and in the center of the field and horizon is a tractor.

Biosolids Return Nutrients to the Soil

Aerial photo from 1974 of the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant. About half the plant is outlined to show what areas are being impacted by the STEP program.

About the Secondary Treatment Expansion Program

Photo of the inside of East Side Big Pipe shows large diameter pipe with golf cart driving down the center. Pipe is 22 feet in diameter.

About the Big Pipe Project

Graphic shows a screen capture of a of Portland with blue markers and squares with text that says: Sewer, stormwater, and watershed restoration. Find a project.er and stormwater project"

Find Environmental Services Projects

Photo shows a storm drain in the street with milky substance flowing into it.

Report a Spill or Pollution

Report a Sewer Odor

Report a Sewer Problem

Contact

Environmental Services

BESinfo@portlandoregon.gov

503-823-6995

Follow on Social Media

PortlandBES YouTube Channel

Related offices, programs, advisory groups, and projects

Aerial view of bridges over the Willamette River in Downtown Portland

Environmental Services

Photo shows people walking in the rain with umbrellas with bikes and rain planters along the sidewalk.

Managing Stormwater

Photo shows two workers in sewer construction vault lowering pipe into place

Sewer and Stormwater Improvements

Aerial view of the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant looking north, 2018

Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant Community Advisory Committee

Aerial photo of wastewater treatment plant with four areas shaded in yellow on northern end of campus to indicate project area.

Secondary Treatment Expansion Program

Photo shows three students using science equipment to test water quality

Clean Rivers Education

Photo shows three teenagers using a drill to build a structure.

Environmental Grants and Incentives

Photo show tanks of bubbly water that are part of an on-site pretreatment facility for treating wastewater.

Preventing Pollution

Photo shows deep trench in street with large concrete sewer pipe laying next to it waiting for installation.

Connecting to the Sewer

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