Each year, Clean Water Services (CWS) develops an annual budget and sets rates to support essential wastewater and stormwater services across Washington County. These decisions help ensure that our communities have the infrastructure and services we need to protect public health, reduce flooding, and keep our waterways clean. Any changes to rates for the upcoming fiscal year would take effect on July 1.

The rates you see on your bill will vary depending on where you live and how services are provided in your community. Learn about regional vs. local services, proposed changes to rates, and how to participate in our budget process in our Rates FAQs, and see how our rates compare to other utilities in the region on our blog.

How often do you consider where water (and everything you flush along with it) goes after you “go,” or where it flows when it falls as rain, melts as snow, or runs down your driveway from a hose? The public works staff who maintain miles of pipe, operate treatment facilities, monitor water quality, and respond to threats to public health and the environment are working to keep those essential services flowing 24 hours a day for you.

This National Public Works Week (May 17-23), take a moment to think about the importance of public works in your community, and the public works employees providing the services that create and maintain a livable community for all of us.

Better yet, come see some of that work in action! Sign up for a free public tour this spring or summer. You can also explore the water treatment process virtually.

Last week, CWS began releasing water from Hagg Lake and Barney Reservoir. The Tualatin River is a vital source of water for Washington County communities, crops, and companies. These cool water releases are essential to keeping the Tualatin River flowing and healthy in the dry months. Scientists closely monitor the river to determine when more water is needed to sustain water quality and the ecology of the watershed.

A staff member spotted this hummingbird nest on our Tualatin River Farm property in early May. These tiny birds hatched from eggs the size of jellybeans, and the fledglings will soon be fluttering around local gardens and greenspaces as essential pollinators.

Caring for our rivers also means caring for the land with smart management practices, which helps ensure baby hummingbirds like these are safe in and around their nest throughout the spring. Mowing poses a big threat to little birds, so our employees mark areas to avoid when nests are spotted on the property. Staff and contractors often refer to the well-established guidelines for nesting birds from the City of Portland.



Learn more about the work happening at the Tualatin River Farm, which helps support a healthy watershed for people and pollinators alike. Learn more about how you can support water quality and wildlife with resources from the Tualatin Watershed Navigator.

Stay Informed

For updates on public meetings — including the Board of Directors, the Clean Water Services Advisory Commission, and the CWS Audit Committee — use the button below to sign up to receive our Public Meetings Information newsletter.  

Clean Water Services is a public utility that provides wastewater and stormwater services to more than 600,000 people across the Tualatin River Watershed in Oregon. This includes urban Washington County and parts of Multnomah and Clackamas counties.