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Sewer Division
The City of Portland’s Sewer Division is operated by the Public Services department.
Two different divisions work as one to manage the sewer system. The 
Engineering
Division of The Public Services department has within it an Environmental section
that is responsible for managing large sewer programs.
The Environmental section handles programs like the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) program. This type of sewer system makes up more than half of the city's sewer system.
The CSO program was created to separate storm water from the sanitary sewer system. Storm water has a major impact on the sewer system as well as the public waters around our community.
Other responsibilities of the Environmental Section is to inspect the city's sewer and storm water lines through the use of sophisticated video equipment.
These are two examples of what this highly trained group of people do everyday.
The Public Services Department Sewer Division currently manages 200 plus miles of sewer lines and 100 plus miles of storm water lines. The Sewer Division has 4,400 catch basin as well as several thousands sewer and storm water manholes. The division also maintains the City’s road side ditches, culverts and sewers, and storm water lines located on the right of way.
The Sewer Division is charged with managing the following programs.
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System Administration
This aspect of the operation involves the management of a large amount of
information. Some information records in our system go back to the late
1800’s.
Our sewer inspectors are responsible for maintaining sewer and storm water connection cards. These cards assist the public, contractors, and our inspectors in locating underground lines.
The Sewer Section records the daily maintenance records of sewer
and
storm sewer cleaning assignments. One or the major components for managing
storm water is through an aggressive catch basin cleaning program. One of
our newest tools is our Vactor truck. This truck carries 1,500 gallons of
water for use with its frontend mounted jet cleaning attachment.
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Sewer Inspections
We have three full time sewer inspector who respond to sewer related emergencies,
sewer odor complaints sewer backups street flooding.
Other duties of our sewer inspectors is to respond to dig safes location marking request.
Structural repairs to catch basins and manhole. Our construction crew also performs emergency spot repairs to our underground sewer and storm water lines.
Any sewer operation questions, please call John Emerson at 874-8468. Any sewer engineering services section at 874-8846.
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