When is the W-3 worksheet used?
The W-3 worksheet is used to determine what size a water meter needs to be. You must fill out a W-3 worksheet if you are making a voluntary meter request; if you’re building a new single-family residence (NSFR), new rowhouse or townhouse, or a new accessory dwelling unit (ADU); if you’re adding a fourth (or more) toilet to a single-family residence; or if there is a change in use of an existing structure.
The W-3 worksheet must be submitted to the Water Available group in the Water Bureau. The Water Available group reviews water meters and water services on building permits for the City. Information on how to fill out and submit the W-3 worksheet is below.
Steps for completing the W-3 worksheet
- Enter how many of each fixture the unit will have.
- The W-3 worksheet can be used for one or two units. Add the fixture quantities together if you’re using the worksheet for two units.
- Multiply each fixture’s total quantity by that fixture’s multiplier to determine the total fixture value.
- Add all total fixture values for the unit’s grand total fixture value. This is marked as “GTF value” on the worksheet.
- Use the GTF value to find the meter size on the reference chart on the reverse side of the form.
When is additional material required?
After the W-3 worksheet has been completed and submitted, the Water Available group will review the size of your existing meter and water service line from the water main to the meter.
If the water service line is found to be of adequate size but your meter is undersized, a meter upsize will be required. No site plan is required for this type of meter upsize; however, there will be installation and SDC charges associated with the meter upsize.
If the water service line is found to be undersized, a new service line will need to be installed by the Portland Water Bureau at the property owner's or developer's expense. In this case, your building permit plans must include a scalable site plan that identifies the location of the new service line. The location of your new service line must meet the site plan requirements outlined below. Your site plan will need to demonstrate minimum clearances from all existing and proposed above and below ground utilities and structures such as water services, hydrants, sewer lines, trees, power poles, guy-wires, etc.
Separation and site plan requirements for water service installations
Your site utility plan must meet all the following requirements per Portland City Code Title 21, OAR 333, TRN 9.07, and 10.19.
- To obtain underground utility information for your site utility plan, contact 811, Oregon Utility Notification Center. Keep your locate ticket number. You may be asked to provide it to the Water Available group during the permit review process.
- The site utility plan must be scalable and legible, showing all existing and proposed utilities and features, properly labeled, in the right-of-way. Show the whole street (curb to opposite curb) running along the entire length of the property frontage. Include easements, right-of-way lines, property lines, and curb lines (on both sides of the street).Show utilities serving both sides of the street.
- New water meters may not be placed in driveway wings.
- Water services must be perpendicular to the water main for the entire portion in the public right-of-way.
- The water meter should be adjacent to the curb in the public right-of-way.
- A new water service cannot be installed in the same location as an existing service.
Multiple meters
The Water Available group allows multiple meters on a single tax lot. To help you determine the costs associated with shared or separate meters, review the cost comparison charts on page 2 of the W-3 worksheet.
Submitting a W-3 worksheet
If you have a building permit, submit your W-3 worksheet with your building permit application through the Bureau of Development Services (BDS).
If a W-3 worksheet was requested on a checksheet, submit your W-3 worksheet through the BDS checksheet response process.
For voluntary meter requests, the W-3 worksheet and additional material can be submitted directly to the Water Available group.
- By email; devrev@portlandoregon.gov
- If you're unable to submit by email, please call 503-823-7368 option 4 or email devrev@portlandoregon.gov for other options
How do I schedule the work?
Work can be scheduled after you pay your fees.
For building permits, fees are added to building permits and are paid when the building permit is issued.
For a voluntary meter request, Water Available will give you a fee statement with instructions on how to pay the fees.
For meter upsizes, the installation will be scheduled by the Water Available group after you have paid all associated fees.
For water service lines, you can schedule the installation two business days after paying your fees. Standard installations for small services are typically performed within 15 business days of being scheduled.
To schedule your installation, contact Water Bureau Maintenance & Construction Coordinators:
- Schedule by email at wbistateshed@portlandoregon.gov
- Schedule over the phone by calling 503-823-1526 (24-hour voicemail)