Services, Guides, and Information

200 services and resources found
Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to the Willamette River and Columbia Slough are rare. But when they do occur, Portlanders are advised to stay out of the water for 48 hours following a CSO due to higher levels of bacteria and other contaminants. Find out if a CSO is happening now.
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 Green Streets

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Green streets reduce sewer overflows and backups by slowing and absorbing stormwater runoff from sidewalks and streets. Also known as rain gardens or bioswales, green streets are important to the City’s sewer and stormwater systems. They also help prevent pollution from washing into our rivers.
Neighborhood to the River grants are available for projects that improve stormwater management and watershed health while benefiting and involving communities.
Portland’s sewer and stormwater system includes pipes, pump stations, and treatment plants. It also includes green street planters, rain gardens, and trees. Together, this “grey” and “green” infrastructure helps us manage sewage and stormwater to protect people, property, and our environment.
Portland’s watershed report cards provide an overview of watershed health in the city. These science-based report cards summarize complex scientific information from the city’s environmental monitoring program and other data.
Spanning 20 years at a ratepayer investment of $1.4 billion, the Big Pipe Project has reduced combined sewer overflows to the Willamette River by 94 percent and to the Columbia Slough by 99 percent. With most overflows eliminated, the Willamette is cleaner than it’s been in decades.
In service since 1992, the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant’s Community Advisory Committee provides important input to Environmental Services on projects, construction, and operations and maintenance at the plant.
STEP is the largest improvement project at the treatment plant since the 1970s. The improvements will increase the plant's resiliency, protect water quality, and provide healthier work environments for essential workers.
Wastewater treatment recovers resources from the water we use in our homes, such as in sinks and toilets. Recovering the resources from that “used” water helps keep our community’s rivers healthy and creates renewable resources for energy and agriculture.
The Wetland Inventory Project (WIP), led by the Bureau of Environmental Services, is using the Oregon Department of State Lands methodology to map wetlands throughout all of Portland.
The City of Portland code requires individual properties to have direct and independent connections to the public sewer. However, the City may accept or adopt a private sewer line in the right-of-way serving residential properties under certain conditions.
Learn more about the requirements that apply to accessory dwelling units related to water, sanitary and stormwater sewer connections.
Find important information about fiscal and insurance requirements along with expectations before and during project implementation of your Portland Harbor Community Grant.
The At-Risk Species List is a subset of the Special Status List that includes the species most vulnerable and of highest concern. On this page, you will find the species on this list.

Basins

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Basins collect rainwater to control flooding and prevent erosion. They are an attractive way to manage the rain on your property and can add interest to your landscape. They are most suitable for large, open spaces. 

Beavers in Portland

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Within the City of Portland, beavers are present in nearly all streams, sloughs, channels, and waterways and occasionally in the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Learn more about North America’s largest rodent on this page and what the City is doing to assist with beaver management.
In many places in Portland, storm drains flow directly into a river or stream. To protect our rivers and streams, City Code prohibits pouring or dumping anything into a storm drain. Learn about requirements and ways you can prevent pollution. Remember, only rain goes down a storm drain.
Is it raining? Here you can track how the Big Pipe Project is preventing combined sewer overflows to the Willamette River, and be the first to know if a rare overflow does occur.
Environmental Services has made changes to the Pretreatment Enforcement Response Plan (ERP). Changes to the ERP are effective March 1, 2022.
Are you planning to swim, boat, or play in the Willamette River? The river’s water quality is generally safe for swimming and other recreation thanks to the Big Pipe Project and other water quality improvements. Check for yourself. We test the river for bacteria counts regularly and post results.

Clean River Rewards

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Does the rain that runs off your roof safely soak into the ground on your property instead of going into the city’s sewer and stormwater pipes? As a homeowner or renter, you could save up to $130 a year on the on-site stormwater charges of your bill. Commercial property owners could save even more.
Meet some of the hardworking and talented people who work for Environmental Services. Learn about the wide variety of careers involved with working for clean rivers.