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Customer Newsletter, Spring 2025

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Quarterly newsletter from Environmental Services and Portland Water — Portland's service providers for sewer, stormwater, and water.
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Making every dollar count

A $1 bill graphic broken down as 35 cents for operations and maintenance, 34 cents for system improvement projects, 23 cents for loan repayment, and 8 cents for other costs
Series of four photos including hydrant work, pipe work in the street, large underground sewer pipe, and bridge across river

Every dollar from your utility bill goes toward keeping our city safe, healthy, and hydrated. From managing stormwater and wastewater to maintaining the thousands of miles of pipes that deliver drinking water to your home, the work we do every hour of every day is an investment in Portland’s future. By continuing to invest these dollars wisely, we can ensure that future generations of Portlanders will benefit from our amazing water resources the same way that we have.

Learn more about the critical work each rate dollar supports


If you’re struggling to pay your bill, help is available.

Contact us: 503-823-7770  |   pwbcustomerservice@portlandoregon.gov  |   portland.gov/water/financialassistance  |   portland.gov/utilitybill


How to avoid card processing fees coming this spring

Blue rectangular card with exclamation point in middle

Starting this spring, customers who use a credit or debit card to pay their sewer, stormwater, and water bill online or by phone will pay a processing fee. This fee is charged by the payment processor, not the City. To avoid this fee, customers can make an electronic payment from their bank account (ACH) for autopay or one-time payments. Cash, check, or money order payments will also remain fee-free. Learn more about processing fees.


Keep your meter clear

Diagram; details in bullets on page

Water meter readers walk far and near to read each meter four times a year. If your meter’s blocked, they’ll have to reappear. So help them out, since spring is here, and keep your meter clear!

  • Trim grass to the edge of the meter box.
  • Remove all branches hanging lower than 6 feet over the meter box.
  • Keep everything off of the meter box, including trash cans and recycling bins.

Don’t be fooled by “flushable” wipes

A toilet graphic with a prohibited symbol overlaid on wipes containers labeled as "flushable"

Wipes don’t break down like toilet paper. Instead, they tangle, clump together, and block pipes. This causes sewer backups in homes, neighborhoods, and the environment.

Protect your home! Flush only the 3 P’s: pee, poop, and (toilet) paper.

Wipes clog pipes. Even it claims to be “flushable” – it’s not.


The City of Portland is committed to providing meaningful access. To request translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, or other auxiliary aids or services, or to file a complaint of discrimination, contact 503-823-7770, Relay: 711, or pwbcustomerservice@portlandoregon.gov.

Traducción e Interpretación  |  Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch  |  口笔译服务  |  अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या  |  Устный и письменный перевод  |  Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad  |  Письмовий і усний переклад  |  Traducere și interpretariat  |  Chiaku me Awewen Kapas 

Translation and Interpretation:   503-823-7770  |  portland.gov/water/access

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