Water Environment Services

Our staff inspects the industrial pretreatment processes of businesses to eliminate illegal discharge of harmful chemicals into the sewage treatment process and collects wastewater samples to ensure industrial compliance with federal and state environmental regulations and local sewer ordinances.

WES Source Control

In addition to the federal and state-mandated Industrial Pretreatment Program, our Industrial Permits Division also administers other programs. These other programs include:

• Septage receiving
• Extra-strength billing
• Restaurant fats, oils and grease (FOG) reduction
• Illicit discharge investigation
• Surface water sampling
• Temperature monitoring
• Mercury minimization activities

Industrial Pretreatment

• Local Discharge Limits

Permitted Industrial User Determination

Industries who meet the criteria to require permit coverage as a Permitted Industrial User.
If the answer is yes to any of the questions below, your business meets the criteria to apply for an receive an Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit:

• Does discharge require pretreatment to comply with federal, state or local discharge limitations?
• Does the industry discharge more than 30 lbs. of BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) or TSS (Total Suspended Solids) in any given day?
• Does discharge exceed 350mg/L of BOD or TSS per day?
• Does discharge exceed 10,000 gpd?
• Does discharge require more than 20mg/L of Cl2 (Clorine) at the treatment plant?
• Does discharge contain any hazardous substances?

If the answer is no to all of the above questions, the industry does not meet the criteria that requires permit coverage and is not a Permitted Industrial User. However, WES Rules and Regulations still apply to business operations and their wastewater discharge.
 

Significant Industrial User Determination

Industries who meet the qualifications as a Significant Industrial User.

First, if your industry does not meet the criteria to be a Permitted Industrial User, the questions below do not apply.
If the answer is yes to any of the questions below, your business meets the criteria to be classified as a Significant Industrial User:

• Is the Industry a Categorical Industry User?
• Does Process Wastewater discharge exceeds 25,000 gpd (gallons per day)?
• Does the Industry process waste makes up 5% or more of the average dry weather hydraulic or organic loading?
• Is there reasonable potential from the Industry’s discharge to adversely affect the plant operation?

If the answer is no to all of the above questions, the business may be a Permitted Industrial User. Please see Permitted Industrial User Determination.
 

Fats, Oil and Grease

• Preferred Pumper Program
• Best Management Practices for Fats, Oil and Grease
• Restaurant Inspection Checklist for Fats, Oil and Grease

Septage Receiving

• Septage Program Hauler Procedures
• Industrial User and Septage Fees

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.” 

Join Us and Make a Difference Today

By working for Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES), you can take pride in not only providing a critical service to our community but also by protecting our environment. You will join a team that offers stability, flexibility, and the opportunity to make a difference.

WES offers a wide variety of career paths, spanning from hands-on operations and field maintenance to engineering, laboratory science, customer service, management, and more.

Jobs at Clackamas Water Environment Services

• View current openings at the Clackamas County jobs page
• Your Benefits as a Clackamas County Employee

Connect with Us

Questions? Reach us directly at WES-HumanResources@clackamas.us

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