Services and Resources for Water, stormwater, and sewer

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.

The Portland Water Bureau is building a new filtration facility and pipelines to protect public health and comply with federal and state safe drinking water regulations. These improvements to the Bull Run water system will help keep our water safe and abundant for generations to come.

Located less than thirty miles east of Portland, the Bull Run Watershed's unique geography and rich history make it an iconic part of the story of our region. It serves as the primary drinking water supply for nearly one million people in the Portland metro area.

The City's Bureau of Hydroelectric Power was established in 1979 to supervise the construction and administer the ongoing operation of the Portland Hydroelectric Project (PHP) located in the Bull Run Watershed.

The Community Watershed Stewardship Program (CWSP) supports Portland community groups and residents who want to improve the health of Portland watersheds. Grants up to $12,000 are awarded to eligible projects on an annual basis.

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.

The Portland Hydroelectric Project generates electricity from dams in the Bull Run Watershed.

Portland's utility bureaus are replacing or upgrading water meters across the city. Learn more about the project and upcoming procurement opportunities.

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.

Environmental Services' Secondary Treatment Expansion Program is the first City project with a project-specific Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). The agreement is one of the City's strategies to diversify the construction industry.

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.

We serve excellent water every minute of every day.

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.

Find important information about fiscal and insurance requirements along with expectations before and during project implementation of your Portland Harbor Community Grant.

In 2022, we were tracking 40 audits with 226 recommendations. Topics ranged from internal financial focused subjects, such as payment card use and construction costs, to programs that impact Portlanders directly, such as the City’s approach to policing gun violence and cleaning up homeless camps.

If you are buying, selling, or developing a potential brownfield property for reuse that creates community benefit, you may be eligible for a Brownfield Grant. Learn how to apply on this page.

If you have a project that benefits your community and the environment, you can apply for a Community Watershed Stewardship Program (CWSP) grant of up to $12,000. The two-page pre-application for projects is due January 22, 2024.

To get a 1200-Z or 1200-A general NPDES stormwater discharge permit for an industrial site in City limits, start here. We receive and process applications for general stormwater permits. The City is the authorized agent for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).