Proposed 2011-12 Sanitary Sewer & SWM Rate Increase FAQs
Q: What is the proposed sanitary sewer and surface water management rate increase?
A: The proposed rate will increase the average residential customer's bill by $2.04 month—not an insubstantial amount but one that still leaves the average bill at about half of an electricity bill, a third of a cable bill and half a cell phone bill. An interruption in these other services is generally inconvenient; an interruption in wastewater services could be catastrophic.
The increases are shared proportionally between Clean Water Services and its member Cities. For the average residential customer:
For the average household:
- The sanitary sewer rate is proposed to increase about $1.54 a month (4.5%).
- The surface water management fee is proposed to increase $0.50 a month (10.53%).
- The combined proposed increase is 5.2%.
- The System Development Charges (SDCs) per equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) and equivalent service unit (ESU) are proposed to be:
- Sanitary = $4,500
- SWM = currently under consideration.
Back to top
Current and proposed Monthly Charges for an Average Household
Based on average monthly water usage of 8 ccf
(ccf = hundred cubic feet or 748 gallons)
| Charges |
Current 2010-11 |
Proposed 2011-12 |
| Sanitary Sewer Base Portion (65% approx) |
$22.46 |
$23.52 |
| Sanitary Sewer Use Portion (35% approx) |
$1.50/ccf |
$1.56/ccf |
| Average Monthly Sanitary Bill (based on 8 ccf/month usage) |
$34.46 |
$36.00
|
| Monthly Surface Water Management Bill |
$4.75 |
$5.25 |
| Combined Average Monthly Bill |
$39.21 |
$41.25 |
Back to top
Q: Why is a rate increase necessary?
A: Expand, replace and upgrade aging infrastructure: For 40 years the community's investment in wastewater treatment has paid dividends for the Tualatin River. Continued investment ($60.4 million) is necessary to pay for the upgrade and expansion of Clean Water Services' four wastewater treatment facilities, 41 pump stations and nearly 800 miles of sewer pipes.
Clean Water Services took advantage of a strong bond rating to sell $100 million in bonds in 2010 to finance vital sanitary sewer projects. The bond sale will ease future rate increases and build reserves for future projects.
Fund operations and maintenance of the public drainage system: Clean Water Services and City crews manage over 525 miles of storm sewers as part of the public drainage system for a growing population to improve water quality, protect fish habitat and prevent flooding ($3.1 million).
Comply with federal and state pollution control standards: To meet some of the most stringent water quality requirements, the community's wastewater is cleaned to a higher standard than 98% of other utilities in the nation.
Back to top
Q: How is Clean Water Services reducing the long-term costs of the utility?
A: Staff Reductions: Clean Water Services has worked to reduce the long-term operating costs of the utility through innovation, using new technology and reorganizing the workforce. Despite increasing stringent state and federal pollution control requirements and a growing service district, Clean Water Services has reduced the number of employees per customer served by more than 35 percent from a high of 4.5 employees per 10,000 residents in 1998 to less than 3 employees per 10,000 today.
Financing investments at historically low interest rates and earning strong bond ratings: Clean Water Services sold $100 million in bonds in April 2010 at the exceptional interest rate of 3.55% utilizing the federal Build America Bonds (BABs) program for more than 91% of this bond issue. The District will save $12.5 million over the life of the bond issue by taking advantage of this unique opportunity. Funding from these bonds will finance vital sanitary sewer system capital projects and help ease future rate increases.
In 2011, Clean Water Services plans to take advantage of historically low interest rates to refinance ten year old sewer bonds to reduce debt and lower cost for our ratepayers.
Energy Savings: This year, the District received nearly $155,000 in energy incentives for facility improvements, energy-saving technologies and studies.
Back to top
Q: Why are rates different from city to city?
A: Clean Water Services and its member Cities adopted a new rate model in 2008 that provides stable funding for regional services and provides flexibility for the District and its member Cities to provide local services. Clean Water Services sets a district wide rate for both sewer and surface water management and also a local rate for the unincorporated areas within the urban Washington County. Each City may then adopt Clean Water Services' local rate or may choose to adopt their own rate to meet the needs of their community.
Back to top
Q: How does new development pay for connecting to the sanitary sewer and surface water management system?
A: For each new dwelling, the developer pays a one-time fee to connect to the sanitary sewer and surface water management systems. These connection fees, known as system development charges (SDCs), reflect the value of existing infrastructure and future capacity requirements. To ensure new construction pays a reasonable share of capital costs related to growth, Clean Water Services is recommending a $400 increase in the one-time System Development Charge (SDC) per equivalent dwelling unit (EDU). The sanitary sewer SDC would increase from $4,100 to $4,500 per EDU. The SWM SDC is currently under consideration.
Back to top
Q: Why is the sewer bill higher than the water bill?
A: It costs more to clean wastewater than to provide pure tap water because the process involves a series of mechanical, biological and chemical treatments. All the chemicals used to clean wastewater must be removed before the water is released to the Tualatin River. Finally, the biosolids that settle out must be processed and recycled. Every day, Clean Water Services facilities clean an average of 58 million gallons of wastewater and produce 28.5 dry tons of biosolids. Clean Water Services' advanced (tertiary) treatment exceeds standards of nearly every other wastewater facility in the nation. The cleaned wastewater actually improves the water quality of the Tualatin River.
Back to top
Q: How can I help control my sewer bill?
A: You can reduce sewer charges by using water wisely. Part of your sewer bill is based on the amount of wastewater a household produces. The usage portion of the charge is calculated from the customer’s water usage the previous winter (November-April). By using winter averages, the customer is not charged more in the summer for outdoor watering, since that water doesn't go into the wastewater system. A portion of the charge, the base rate, reflects the fixed costs of service and is not affected by water usage. Conserving water can lower the sewer bill.
Typical Monthly Sewer and SWM Bill Comparison
| City/Agency |
Level of Treatment |
FY 2010-11 Average Monthly Sanitary Charge |
FY 2010-11 Average Monthly SWM Charge |
FY 2010-11 Average Monthly Combined Bill |
Rate Change for FY 2011-12 |
Est. Combined Monthly Bill as of July 1, 2011 |
| Clean Water Services |
Advanced Tertiary |
$34.46 |
$4.75 |
$39.21 |
4.5%, Sanitary & $.50 SWM |
$41.25 |
| McMinnville |
Advanced Tertiary |
$52.80 |
$0.00 |
$52.80 |
3.2% in September |
$54.49 |
| Portland |
Secondary |
$31.54 |
$21.79 |
$53.33 |
6.5% (Storm & Sanitary) |
$56.80 |
Clackamas County Service District #1 |
Secondary |
$38.00 |
$6.00 |
$44.00 |
No Increase |
$44.00 |
| Vancouver, WA (rates effective 1-1-11) |
Secondary, Activated Sludge |
$39.40 (a)
$59.54 (b) |
$6.95 |
$46.35 (a)
$66.49 (b) |
Various Rates |
$46.35 (a)
$66.49 (b) |
(a) Inside City Limits (b) Outside City Limits
Note: Based on data collected prior to 2011-12 budget adoption and subject to change.
Back to top
Q: Is the public notified about rate increases? How can I get involved?
A: Every year, from April through June, Clean Water Services goes through a budget process to establish rates for the following fiscal year. Public meeting notices are published in local newspapers, inviting the public to comment on proposed rates before the budget is adopted. Before any rate change, the District sends media releases to local newspapers and billing inserts to customers to notify customers of rate increases.
Clean Water Services' Board of Directors adopts the District's budget and rates. Citizens can testify regarding the 2011-12 proposed budget and rates at upcoming public meetings. On May 6, 2011, the Budget Committee will consider the FY 2011-12 proposed budget and recommend it to the Board of Directors for adoption on June 7, 2011.
Clean Water Services Budget Committee
Meeting to Consider Proposed Budget & Make Recommendation to Board
9:00 a.m., May 6, 2011
Clean Water Services Administration Building Complex
2550 SW Hillsboro Hwy, Hillsboro, OR 97123
Clean Water Services Board of Directors
Public Hearing to Recommend Budget
10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Shirley Huffman Auditorium
Public Services Building
155 N. First Ave., Hillsboro, OR 97124
For more information, contact Clean Water Services Public Affairs at (503) 681-3600 or visit the website at
cleanwaterservices.org.
Back to top