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Quarterly newsletter from Environmental Services and Portland Water — Portland's service providers for sewer, stormwater, and water. Updated April, 2026.
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Information about your bill
Flood Safety Benefit Fee helps protect critical infrastructure
Starting July 1, 2026, Portlanders will see a new fee on their sewer, stormwater, and water bill, amounting to $3.60 every three months for the average single-family home. While it will be collected through the utility bill, the money does not go to the utilities.
The Flood Safety Benefit Fee will pay for flood safety systems managed by the Urban Flood Safety & Water Quality District. This network of levees, pump stations, and other equipment helps prevent flooding along the Columbia River and protects thousands of Portlanders who live and work there. It also protects critical infrastructure like the Portland International Airport and our groundwater source, the Columbia South Shore Well Field.
Learn more about the Flood Safety Benefit Fee and why it will appear on your bill
Utility rates help keep our city safe, healthy, and hydrated
Every dollar from your utility bill goes toward maintaining and updating our essential systems, like building our filtration facility, which will keep our drinking water safe and abundant for generations to come. (Learn more about the Bull Run Filtration Project.)
This spring, we'll propose annual adjustments to water, sewer, and stormwater rates. They'll be finalized in May through the utility rate and budget process, which includes City Council approval and opportunities for community input.
We're committed to easing bill impacts as much as possible. We create long-term financial plans to smooth out the customer impacts of rate increases. Our rate increases reflect the real costs of safe, reliable systems and the real challenges facing utilities across the country.
For help managing your bill, contact customer service at PWBCustomerService@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-7770.
Enroll in paperless billing and autopay today!
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- Stop writing checks and buying stamps.
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Understanding stormwater billable area
Stormwater billable area is the developed area of a property that prevents stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground. It includes areas like rooftops, porous pavement, patios, and driveways. The size of this area determines which category (small, medium, or large) a property is placed in.
Learn more about stormwater billable area
Keep your meter clear
Spring is the perfect time to make sure your water meter is easy to access! Meter readers usually read each meter four times a year. Crews are also replacing meters throughout the city for our smart meters project. If your meter is blocked, they can't do this important work.
- 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
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.
Wipes clog pipes. Even if it claims to be "flushable"—it's not.