Sewer Maintenance

The Sewer Division is responsible for inspecting, cleaning, repairing, and maintaining the city's sewer and storm drainage system, which consists of over 88 miles of sewer mains; more than 84 miles of storm pipe; 12 drainage basins; 6,443 sewer connections; 3,345 catch basins; 65 water quality facilities; and 3,600 manholes. Clean Water Services maintains 11 sewer lift stations within the city. 

The sanitary sewer system is maintained on a periodic schedule that includes jetting of mainlines with high pressured water, and video inspection is performed to identify any potential problems and verify that all lines are clean and working properly.  

What should I do if I see liquid flowing out of a manhole?
Stay away from the liquid and call the Public Works Department immediately at 503-691-3091. If no one is available at the main line contact 503-629-0111.

Is it okay to dump grease down my house drain?
No.  Dumping grease down your house drain will cause grease buildup in your drain lines.  Some people believe that if you mix hot water with the grease it will not clog your lines.  While this practice may not clog the lines in your immediate house, by the time the grease gets to your lateral it will have cooled enough to build up.  Keep in mind, you are responsible for the maintenance of your lateral and calling out a plumber for this type of maintenance can be very expensive.

Where is the wastewater treated?
Wastewater collect in the City of Tualatin flows to a sewer lift station within the City and is then pumped to a sewer treatment plant in Durham that is operated by Clean Water Services.

Is it ok to flush plastic items down the toilet?
No.  Flushing plastic items and other non-biodegradable materials, such as many brands of baby wipes down the toilet causes problems in sewer lines.  The material will hang up in your line and can cause blockages.  If the material reaches the treatment plant it will cause problems at the treatment facilities as well.

Is it ok to dump car oil down the sanitary drain system in my house?
No.  Oil causes the filtration system at the treatment plant to fail and the filtration system must be cleaned and replaced, causing thousands of dollars in damage.