Free Newsletter
Coos Bay plans $24M wastewater treatment plant
City officials in Coos Bay say they will likely need at least $80 million for wastewater treatment over the next 20 to 30 years, and they want to start by building a new plant.
DEQ wastewater inspector sprayed with leaking sewage
A car in Douglas County was sprayed with raw sewage while it was following a truck from a portable toilet company. Unfortunately for the company, the driver of the car was a wastewater inspector for the Department of Environmental Quality.
City-owned pipe leaks sewage, but city won鈥檛 pay for damages
When a city-owned pipe burst this past summer and leaked sewage into the building of a Southeast Portland business, the property owner tried to get the city to pay for the damages. But the city said the pipe wasn't previously in disrepair, so the city would not cover the damages. Now the property owner is considering filing a lawsuit.
Portland gets creative with stormwater project, adds bikes and art
The city of Portland has invested in a community-driven stormwater management project in Northeast Portland that features public art and bicycle parking. City staffers hope the design will be replicated throughout the city when resources allow.
Green wastewater treatment systems don’t work as well as hoped
Ecological wastewater treatment, which uses microorganisms and living plants to clean wastewater, can drastically reduce water usage. And the innovation is growing in popularity as the technology advances. But facilities with the systems are still sorting out issues with them.
New measures clean up grease clogs in the sewers
In some parts of Portland, sewer pipes are as clogged fatty arteries. In both cases, it鈥檚 really gross and the culprit is the same: oils and grease from fried foods. The city spends more than $12 million a year to fix sewer lines clogged with grease and treat gunky wastewater.
Sewage spills taint rivers and minds in New York, Portland
As New Yorkers go back to treating the Hudson River as the reviled industrial wasteland of yore, Southwest Portland experiences its second sewage spill of the week.
Fanno Creek sewer still breaking, leaking sewage
Just when you thought the hot weather would mean a stop to rain-related sewage spills, Portland’s sewage found a way to creep up to the surface. Maybe the city is […]
No really, you don’t want to swim in the Willamette
You don鈥檛 have to have a sketchy mustache and nasty hair to jump into the Willamette River (see below video). But, if you do go in the river, you just may get as dirty. For all you hip folks thinking of jumping into the river on July 31 for The Big Float, be warned; you may be jumping in a river of excrement.
Time to pay for those sewer projects, you guys!
The Portland Bureau of Environmental Services announced today that residential monthly bills for sewer and storm water services increased 6 percent, the latest rate increase to pay for maintenance of the system and capital improvements such as the Big Pipe Project (combined sewer outflow) and the expansion of closed reservoirs to meet EPA standards on municipal water quality.
East Side Big Pipe project on track for completion in September
Five years of construction on the East Side Big Pipe project are on track to come to an end this September. According to Debbie Caselton, a community relations representative with the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, 鈥渇inal hookup鈥� work will be completed this summer.
Portland fixes sewer without tearing up track
Work is under way on a $2.3 million project to repair several aging segments of sewer line in Northwest and Southwest Portland. Workers will use special boring technology for the pipes under the streetcar line so tracks can stay in the ground.
News
- Multnomah County commits up to $101.6M for Moda Center
- Portland code changes to take effect in November
- Los Colibris project approved for Portland’s OMSI District
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $9.9 million in top bidders | Aug. 7, 2026
- Oregon opens infrastructure grant program
- Ex-TV host claps back at Detroit officials in blight case
- 31-unit multifamily project in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 3, 2026
- $2.4 million office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 3, 2026
- Transportation commission weighs ODOT budget cuts
- Lam Research planning $1.7 billion investment in Tualatin
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $10.6 million in top bidders | July 31, 2026
- Many Oregon counties struggling to maintain their fairgrounds
Commentary
- Beware of when the debt collector comes calling | Opinion
- Assembly of a future workforce begins with an invitation | Opinion
- Beware of overlooking legal requirements for remote workers | Opinion
- Become a critical thinker and transform a workplace | Opinion
- Managing construction risks with international suppliers | Opinion
- A rally with many engines: the lesson of 2026’s first half | Opinion
- Oregon housing challenges persist despite sound and fury | Opinion
- When does an employee’s bullying become harassment? | Opinion
- Ditch disorganization 鈥� the cost of deferred decisions | Opinion
- Consider 10 common risks for healthcare construction projects | Opinion
- Clarifying the reach of a law regarding prevailing wage | Opinion
- Adjust to legal changes now to ensure compliance later | Opinion
