July 19, 2013

This morning, Nick was pleased to tour the Bureau of Environmental Services' (BES) Water Pollution Control Lab in North Portland and the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The Water Pollution Control Lab is an important piece of Portland’s pollution prevention. Staff ensure rapid response to pollution spills, investigate threats to the environment (such as preventing industrial pollution), and help manage stormwater.

The Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant is the largest in Portland. The plant, built in 1952, collects and treats sewage 24 hours a day for 600,000 customers. Dozens of pump stations and thousands of miles of sewer lines are part of a system that brings wastewater to the plant.

It may not be the most glamorous piece of the city, but our Environmental Services help make Portland’s clean water and sustainable practices the envy of the nation!