Water Environment Services

Local Discharge Limits are specific rules that businesses must follow when they send wastewater into the sewer system. These limits help keep the treatment plant running safely and smoothly, protect workers, and prevent harmful pollutants from reaching the Willamette River. They also help ensure that treated waste can be disposed of properly and that plant operations are not disrupted.

Local Discharge Limits are one of several tools used by WES’ Industrial Pretreatment Program to meet requirements set by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Residual fats, oils, and grease (FOG) are by-products of cooking and cleaning that can cause major blockages in municipal sewer systems. 

Over 30% of sanitary sewer blockages are caused by FOG buildup. Proper FOG management keeps plumbing systems safe and can reduce maintenance costs. 

1. Dry Clean-Up 

Always remove food waste using dry methods before using water-based cleaning. Wet methods can wash FOG into drains, causing pipe buildup. 

Tips for dry clean-up: 

• Use rubber scrapers to remove grease from cookware, utensils, and serving ware.
• Use food-grade paper to soak up grease under fryer baskets.
• Wipe down work areas with paper towels, not cloth towels (which can transfer grease to drains).
• Never pour cooking oils, fats, or grease down the drain.
• Educate staff to keep drain screens in place to prevent utensils and debris from entering plumbing. 

2. Spill Prevention 

Preventing spills keeps kitchens safer and reduces FOG entering drains. 

Best practices: 

• Empty containers before they are full.
• Cover grease/interceptor barrels during transport.
• Provide ladles, containers, and tools for safe handling of grease. 

3. Equipment Maintenance 

Regular maintenance is key to FOG control. 

Grease traps and hoods: 

• Clean under-sink grease traps according to daily/weekly schedules.
• Contract professional cleaning for large hood filters; smaller hoods can be cleaned with hot water and minimal detergent.
• Ensure ventilation systems are balanced with proper make-up air. 

Fryer management: 

• Skim/filter fryer grease daily; change oil based on test kits, not guesswork.
• Dispose of used oil into rendering tanks instead of drains.
• Establish a fryer rotation system to extend oil life and reduce carbon buildup. 

Cleaning intervals: 

• Vary by establishment size and food type; high-volume fryers may require monthly cleaning.
• Fully clean grease traps by removing liquids and solids, scraping walls, and preventing sediment accumulation. 

4. Oil and Grease Collection / Recycling 

FOG can be a valuable resource if collected properly. 

Collection tips: 

• Use covered 25-gallon barrels for oil/grease.
• Keep barrels covered at all times to prevent stormwater contamination.
• Separate prerinse (hot water only) and wash/rinse steps to trap grease effectively.
• Dispose of grill-top scraps, hood debris, and fryer solids into rendering barrels. 

Food donations: 

• Edible food waste can be donated to food banks.
• Inedible scraps can be collected by livestock feeders. 

5. Grease Traps 

Proper sizing, construction, and placement are critical: 

• Ensure all FOG-bearing drains (mop sinks, prep sinks, dishwashers, prerinse sinks, floor drains) feed into grease traps.
• Do not connect toilets to grease traps.
• If needed, consider installing a second grease trap with flow-through venting. 

Tip: Consult local city/county authorities or EPA guidance for proper sizing and installation. 

6. Consumer Tip 

Beware of “miracle” FOG solutions: 

• Some products do not prevent downstream accumulation.
• Check vendor references and verify that the system works as claimed.
• Remember: “Out of sight” does not mean “out of mind.” 

Most people don’t think about what happens after they flush their toilet. As long everything is working fine, they don’t have to worry about it. The truth is that it takes a lot of science, hard work and dedicated professionals to make sure the toilets, sewers, stormwater systems and wastewater treatment plants are working every day of the year.

Certifications

• Backyard Habitat Certification Program open enrollment
• EcoBiz Certification: Eco-Friendly Oregon Businesses

Erosion control training for professionals

• Eco-3
• NWETC Northwest Environmental Training Center
• Certified Erosion & Sediment Control Lead Certification

Teacher/student outreach

• Watershed Health Education Program

See our Education page for tips on how to keep our water system clean and safe. 

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) plans, designs and builds major capital facilities in the areas WES serves, so that operating divisions can serve our customers' wastewater and surface water needs. Capital project management includes design and construction and provides project controls in terms of cost, schedule, scope, program development and long range forecasting.

This program provides grants to qualifying homeowners who live in areas of the North Clackamas Revitalization Area (NCRA) served by Clackamas County Service District No. 1 (CCSD#1) to pay for private sanitary sewer improvements.

The program does not pay for sewer assessments, system development charges or other connection charges, or monthly sewer fees. Homeowners should call 503-742-4567 for information on available assistance programs for these costs and fees.

Eligibility

Grant funds are limited and grants will be made on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible homeowners.

• applicant must own or be buying property
• owner must reside in home

Income limits

Annual gross income limits are as follows:

What type of work is eligible?

Improvements — up to a maximum of $7,500 — include hiring a contractor(s) to re-plumb and connect the home to the public sanitary sewer and decommission the onsite wastewater disposal system.

To apply

Contact WES to initiate the process. Our staff will confirm eligibility and refer you to the county's Community Development division. They will send you an application.

County staff will then inspect the property and prepare construction specifications and cost estimates. We will make a list of pre-qualified contractors. You will need to obtain at least two bids from licensed and bonded contractors from the list.

Using county-supplied forms, you will then:

• enter into a contract with the contractor of your choice
• enter into an agreement with the county

You do not have to select the lowest contractor bid, but the accepted bid must be within 10% of the county's estimate. County staff will inspect the work. Funds cannot be used to pay for your labor as the homeowner.

Grant approval

The county Community Development Director will approve grant applications.

Annexation

Visit our Annexation Information webpage.

Customer and Financial Services

• Low Income Application for Reduction of Sanitary Sewer Charges
• Direct Debit Authorization Agreement for Sanitary Sewer Charges
• New vendor form

Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control

• WES EPSC Permit Application
• WES Single Family EPSC Guidance and Sample plan
• WES Non-single Family Plan Guidance and Templates
• Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Planning & Design Manual
• Best Management Practices Drawings

Sanitary Sewer

System Planning

• Sanitary Sewer Master Plan

Land Use and Plan Review

• Service Provider Letter
• Design Standards
• Appendix A – Permitting and Submittal Requirements
• Appendix B – Sanitary Sewer Standard Detail Drawings
• Engineering Agreement – Sanitary Sewer
• General Construction Notes
• Tap-In Fact Sheet
• Surface Water, Storm Drainage and Sanitary Sewer Easement (public) – contact Development Review Staff

Acceptance Forms

• Certificate of Completion (Private Improvements)
• Certificate of Completion (Public Improvements)
• Public Sanitary Sewer Extension Permit
• Service Connection Drawings
• Low Air Pressure / Mandrel Testing
• Manhole Vacuum Testing
• Cost Data Sheet – Sanitary Sewer
• Conveyance of Public Extension
• Warranty Bond
• Performance Bond
• Security Agreement

Source Control and Industrial Pretreatment

• Industrial Pretreatment: Non-residential questionnaire
• Application and Baseline Monitoring Report for Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit
• Discharge Certification Report
• No Discharge Certification Report
• Application to Discharge Septic Tank Waste at the Tri-City Water Pollution Control Plant
• Total Toxic Organic Certification Report

Stormwater

Land Use and Plan Review 

• Service Provider Letter
• Design standards
• Appendix A – Permitting and Submittal Requirements
• Appendix B – Planting and O&M Guidance
• Appendix C – Stormwater Typical Drawings and Standard Details
• Appendix D – Facility Sizing Methodology and Resources
• Infiltration Testing Report
• Engineering Agreement - Standard
• Engineering Agreement - Private
• General Construction Notes
• Surface Water, Storm Drainage and Sanitary Sewer Easement (public) – contact Development Review Staff 

Completion Forms

• Certificate of Completion (Private Improvements)
• Certificate of Completion (Public Improvements)
• Cost Data Sheet – Storm
• Warranty Bond
• Security Agreement
• Performance Bond

Maintenance

• Public Maintenance Agreement
• Private Stormwater Maintenance Agreement - Single Lot
• Private Stormwater Maintenance Agreement - Partition
• Stormwater Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) Recommendations
• Stormdrain Cleaning Assistance Program (SCAP) Available August through October
• Annual stormdrain structure maintenance report

WQRA Buffers

• Buffer Standards
• WQRA Boundary Verification Application
• WQRA Development Permit Application 

Rules and Regulations

• Rules and Regulations

What materials do I need to submit to obtain a WES EPSC permit and a 1200-CN?

• Completed and signed WES EPSC permit application form.
  • Submit a signed original of the WES EPSC application form and 1 pdf copy.
• The Erosion and Sediment Control Plan drawings. The drawings must follow the WES standard template drawings (especially the cover sheet) provided on the WES website.
  • Submit 2 sets of the plan drawings for review.
  • Upon preliminary plan approval submit 2 sets of the plan drawings and electronic pdf files of the complete set of plans. If the electronic pdf file is larger than 8 MB the drawings must be split into multiple files so no one file is larger than 8 MB file size.
• Submit the applicable WES fees. Fees cover the cost of plan review, permitting and inspections. The permit fee varies depending on the amount of disturbed area (see the fee descriptions listed below). Fees are payable directly to WES. 

Fees for WES EPSC Non-single family/1200-CN Permits within WES Service area

Permit Issuance

WES will issue notification of permit approval to the applicant upon final plan approval.

Changes to Plans After Approval or During Project

Changes in information on the application and/or the approved plans must be submitted to WES by (at WES' discretion) email, redlined plans, revised plans or a combination of these.

Template Drawings

Non-Single Family and/or 1 acre and greater of disturbance EPSC Permit Template Drawings  
For non-single family sites and/or those sites that are 1 acre or greater of disturbance and are located inside of Gladstone, Rivergrove or applicable WES service areas (excluding the City of Happy Valley).

Template EPSC Plan Sheets - PDF Sample Plans

• WES 1200-CN Plan Checklist

DEQ is working on creating their own template plans but in the interim you can find specific plan requirements at their website or adapt the template plans and plan checklist created by Clean Water Services for your own use.

• DEQ 1200-C plan requirements (Use for sites five acres or greater)
• Clean Water Services DEQ 1200-CN Template Plans & Plan Checklist (Use for sites less than 5 acres)
• Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Planning and Design Manual
• Best Management Practices Drawings

Clackamas Water Environment Services' (WES) adopted budget for fiscal year 2025-26 totals $247.6 million. The budget supports WES' mission to protect public health, produce clean water, manage stormwater, and recover renewable resources for nearly 200,000 people across our service area. Major investments include $51.5 million in critical infrastructure projects to maintain safe, reliable service and support future growth.

To fund increasing operating and maintenance costs and continue investing in system reliability, modest rate adjustments have been approved. For most residential customers, the combined monthly wastewater and surface water bill is expected to increase by approximately $1.25 per month (about 2%), keeping WES' rates below the regional average.

The WES Budget Committee reviewed and approved the proposed budget on May 27, 2025, and the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners (serving as the governing body of WES) adopted the budget and updated rates on June 18, 2025 following a public hearing.

Late Fees to Resume for Past-Due Bills Starting August 1, 2025

Beginning August 1, 2025, Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES) will resume assessing late fees on past-due utility bills. As the governing body of WES, the Board of County Commissioners has approved a new late fee structure: 2% of the past-due balance or $5.00, whichever is greater.

Late fees are intended to promote timely payments, reduce the cost of collections, and support the continued delivery of essential sanitary sewer and surface water services.

Avoiding late fees
To avoid late fees, customers are encouraged to pay their monthly bill by the due date listed on their statement. WES offers a variety of tools to help manage your account, including online utility bill payments and paperless billing. Set up online payments and/or enroll in paperless billing.

Need help paying your bill?
If you are experiencing financial hardship, you may qualify for WES’ Low Income Discount Program, which provides discounted rates to eligible households. Learn more or apply.
 

Adopted Rate Adjustments

¹ Wastewater rate reflects Rate Zone 2 retail rate, which includes wastewater treatment, local collection, and legacy debt rate components.
² Area Average reflects rates as of January 1, 2025.

WES Rate Zones

Are you in district? Check your address in CMap.

Construction and development activities can disturb soil, increase erosion, and carry pollutants into nearby properties, storm drains, and local streams. Proper Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control (EPSC) measures help protect water quality and reduce sediment leaving a site.

All development activity within the WES service area must follow EPSC requirements. Projects that disturb 800 square feet or more must obtain a WES EPSC Permit. Projects disturbing 1 acre or more anywhere in Clackamas County must also obtain a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) 1200-C or 1200-CN Construction Stormwater Permit. 

Erosion Control Fees

Types of EPSC Permits

The permit you need depends on your project’s size and location. Below is a summary of each permit type. 

WES EPSC Permit

Required for:

• Projects disturbing 800 sq. ft. or more within the WES service district (excluding Happy Valley)

Typical for:

• Single-family homes
• Small commercial or industrial improvements

To apply:

• Submit the WES EPSC Permit Application and required plans

DEQ 1200-CN Permit

Required for: 

• Projects disturbing 1 acre to <5 acres
• Located in Gladstone, Rivergrove, or WES service areas (excluding Happy Valley)
• Issued by WES along with the local EPSC permit.

Typical for:

• Small subdivisions and partitions
• Multi-family construction
• Commercial and industrial projects

To apply:

• Submit the WES EPSC Application or 1200-CN Templates and erosion control plans for WES review. 

DEQ 1200-C Permit 

Required for:

• Projects disturbing 5 acres or more
• Applies within WES service areas, Gladstone, or Rivergrove
• In Happy Valley, this permit is required in addition to the city’s EPSC permit

Typical for:

• Large subdivisions
• Multi-family developments
• Commercial and industrial sites

To apply:

• Submit the DEQ 1200-C application and template-style erosion control plan directly to DEQ.
• Templates available on DEQ’s 1200-C Construction Stormwater webpage. 

EPSC Resources

Planning and Design Manual

The Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Planning and Design Manual and Best Management Practices Drawings provides detailed information about EPSC practices, materials, and installation guidelines. It was developed in partnership with multiple Clackamas County jurisdictions and Clean Water Services. 

Training

EPSC training is available from private providers. WES does not endorse or recommend any specific training company. 

EPSC Inspections

Inspections help ensure EPSC measures are in place and functioning throughout construction.

Initial Inspection

Required before:

• Single-family homes: Before pouring foundation or footings
• Commercial, industrial, and multi-family: Before any soil disturbance (except installing EPSC measures)

Schedule:

• Single-family: Call 503-742-4720
  • Code 201 – Initial EPSC inspection
  • Code 297 – Final EPSC inspection
• Commercial / Multi-family / Industrial: Call WES at 503-742-4567 and request a development representative

Ongoing Monitoring

WES will conduct periodic inspections during construction.

Final Inspection

Requested once the site has been permanently stabilized.