Clean Water Services’ Forest Grove Treatment Facility Awarded Top National Honors

Hillsboro, OR — July 26, 2007 — The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) presented Clean Water Services’ Forest Grove Wastewater Treatment Facility with a Platinum Peak Performance Award at a ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio on July 18, 2007. Platinum Awards are given only to wastewater treatment facilities that have perfect permit performance records for five consecutive calendar years.

NACWA's Peak Performance Awards program recognizes NACWA-member agency facilities for excellence in wastewater treatment as measured by their compliance with their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. More than 3,000 facilities are represented by members of NACWA and eligible for this award. There are more than16,000 publicly owned wastewater treatment plants operating in the United States.

The Forest Grove Wastewater Treatment Facility must meet nearly 1,000 strict permit conditions annually, including monthly, weekly and daily limits established to protect the Tualatin River. Studies show the investment in clean water is paying off—the Tualatin River is healthier today than it’s been in more than 30 years. “This award represents the District’s longterm commitment to meeting our permit requirements,” said Mark Poling, Clean Water Services’ Wastewater Treatment Department Director.

The Forest Grove Facility cleans an average of 3.7 million gallons of wastewater a day for residents of Forest Grove, Cornelius, Gaston and Banks. The facility operates October through mid-June each year. During the dry summer months, flow is transferred to Clean Water Services’ Rock Creek Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility on River Road for a higher level of cleaning before being released to the Tualatin River. Clean Water Services’ four treatment facilities combined clean more than 60 million gallons of wastewater a day to among the highest standards in the nation before releasing it to the Tualatin River.

Clean Water Services is a water resource management utility for more than 500,000 people in urban Washington County and small portions of Multnomah County, Clackamas County, Lake Oswego, and Portland. Clean Water Services operates four wastewater treatment facilities, 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.

Forest Grove Wastewater Treatment Facility Milestones and Facts
• The original facility was built in 1946 with improvements made in 1952 to expand primary treatment; and in 1964 to expand secondary treatment.
• In 1970, Unified Sewerage Agency (now known as Clean Water Services) was formed by a vote of people to unify the 26 wastewater treatment plans in the basin into a single regional authority.
• By 1974, the upgraded plant treated an average of 3.6 million gallons/day (mgd). During summer, cleaned wastewater was reused for irrigating nearby pastures or stored in ponds and in the winter, it was released into the Tualatin River.
• The facility is staffed by two operators and now treats an average of 3.7 mgd.
• The facility sits on 187 acres of land that also includes a native plant nursery and Fernhill Wetlands that are also owned and maintained by Clean Water Services.

Facility improvements and upgrades
• A 1974 expansion added a primary clarifier, biofilter tower, an aeration basin, secondary clarifiers, an anaerobic digester, and administrative space.
• Additional solids handling facilities were built in 1989.
• A new influent pump station was built in 1991.
• The headworks was improved in 1993. The project included a new raw sewage pump station, bar screens, and vortex-type grit removal.
• Twin 24-inch lines were built in 1993 to connect Forest Grove with the Hillsboro and Rock Creek Facilities, allowing flows to be moved among the three facilities as needed.
• A pump station was built in 1994 to operate with the twin 24-inch lines or to lift flows from the headworks directly to the aeration basins.
• Irrigation system and outfall improvements were made in 1994.
• The solids processing facilities were demolished in 1997. Disinfection was changed from chlorine to Ultra Violet (UV) rays, a blower building and a pump station were constructed, fine bubble diffusers were added to the aeration basins, and the secondary clarifier walls were raised.

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