Power outages, heavy rain cause sewage overflows in Washington County

Storm-related power outages knocked sewage treatment plants and pump stations out of service in Washington County Thursday night causing the overflow of rain diluted sewage into the Tualatin River. All facilities are now fully operational, but area residents and pets are advised to avoid contact with flood waters. Raw sewage that may be overflowing is highly diluted by rainwater which helps reduce the public health risks, but bacteria are still present.

Clean Water Services' crews worked throughout the night to monitor pump stations, manage high-flows at the treatment plants, and respond to emergencies. Crews will be inspecting low-lying manholes throughout the service District early Friday morning to locate areas of possible sewage overflows. The public is advised to call Clean Water Services at (503) 681-4450 or their city to report dislodged manhole lids or sewage bubbling from manholes. The public should not try to replace the lids.

Wastewater treatment facilities lose power
Clean Water Services' Rock Creek Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility lost its primary and alternate sources of power at 9:50 p.m. Thursday evening causing rain diluted sewage to overflow from low-lying manholes near the plant located in Hillsboro at the intersection of SE River Road and Witch Hazel Road. Power was restored around 12:15 a.m.

Clean Water Services' Durham Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility lost power between 5:01 and 5:48 p.m. Thursday causing the overflow of rain diluted sewage into the Tualatin River. The facility was fully operational shortly after 6 p.m.

Multiple storm-related power outages at Clean Water Services Forest Grove Wastewater Treatment Facility may have also caused overflows near the plant on Fern Hill Road. The Hillsboro West Facility near Jackson Bottom experienced multiple power outages but no overflows have been recorded.

Sewage pump stations lose power; operating on generators
Three of Clean Water Services' 41 pump stations are currently operating on generators after losing power in the late afternoon and evening. No overflows have been reported from these facilities.

Clean Water Services is the sanitary sewer and surface water management utility for nearly 500,000 customers in urban Washington County and small portions of Multnomah County, Clackamas County, Lake Oswego, and Portland. Clean Water Services operates four wastewater treatment plants, constructs and maintains flood management and water quality projects and manages flow in the Tualatin River to improve water quality and protect fish habitat. Although Clean Water Services maintains a close working relationship with Washington County government, it is a separately managed and financed public utility.

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