River of love

Clean Water Services has been in a committed relationship with the Tualatin River for 40 years. We show our love in many ways. Our cleaned wastewater gets primary, secondary and sometimes even tertiary treatment before it's returned to the river. In the summer months when the river is feeling low, we release water from Hagg Lake increasing the flow and keeping the water cool. We are also planning for where the river will get water in the future to stay healthy. We work with others to make sure river banks are healthy and stable by removing invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs, which also create habitat for beloved animals and birds. We sweep streets to help keep pollutants out of storm drains and the river.

Now that you know some of the steps we take to nurture the river, help us spread the love:

• Sign up to be a Clean Water Hero
• Plant native plants in your yard
• Volunteer to mark neighborhood storm drains
• Participate in a Tree for All planting
• Pick up after your pets
• Read 50 Ways to Love Your River

New guide for your garden

Living in the Pacific Northwest we are no strangers to rain, in fact, some of us love it! More and more residents are updating their yards to include planted depressions called rain gardens. These gardens allow rain to soak into the ground and help filter out pollutants before water gets to storm drains and our waterways. Take a look at the new Oregon Rain Garden Guide. The guide was written to help residents design and build rain gardens with information specific to Oregon's conditions, including rainfall and appropriate plants.

Tualatin River Watershed residents can also sign up to be a Clean Water Hero and get up to three hours of free, on-site technical assistance in their yard.