Pollution and Dumping
Pollution prevention is much cheaper than pollution clean-up. But who do you call if you witness pollution or dumping? This section provides information on problems related to spills and pollution, illegal dumping, erosion and sediment control, water quality, and sewer systems.Non-point Source Water Pollution Control
As the metropolitan region continues to grow, a number of water quality problems will remain for the simple reason that, when development occurs, vegetation and soils are disturbed and/or displaced with paved surfaces. This often results in non-point pollution, or pollution that cannot be tied to any specific (point) source. Urban stormwater run-off can fall into this category even though it is frequently conveyed through a surface water conveyance system and discharged directly to water bodies. Every surface water agency in the region is, by law, responsible for preventing non-point pollution and associated problems of increased stormwater run-off.Most of these agencies are actively soliciting citizen support and participation, providing citizens with an excellent opportunity to improve water quality in their watershed.
In most jurisdictions there are regulations on the books—some more effective and enforced than others—that are designed to reduce the pollution and erosion impacts on local streams, wetlands and other water bodies. The agencies listed below should be contacted if you experience pollution (including the elimination of shade) and sedimentation from road and sewer construction or clearing of land. If you see an existing or potential water pollution problem you might also want to contact the local watershed council or Friends group if one exists (See Watershed Planning) or one of the several nonprofit conservation groups working on water resource issues in the Portland-Metro region.
If you expect an ongoing land-use activity may be in violation of state water quality rules, you should also contact the Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) NW region office (503-229-5263) or the Washington State Department of Ecology (360-407-6300). DEQ will be particularly useful where there is not a local surface water management agency (e.g., on private forest land outside the UGB). In recent years DEQ has faced cutbacks in resource for enforcement which is mostly complaint driven. It may require persistence in getting an inspection. DEQ’s water quality program’s website now has complete copies of the water quality rules with rule text and all of the attached tables, figures and diagrams that make up the complete set of water quality rules. To find the rules go to the Water Quality web site home page and click on Water Quality Program Rules under Information by Subject Area.
Who Ya Gonna Call?
Oregon DEQ,Water Quality Section:
503-229-5279, fax 503-229-5408
City of Portland Environmental Services:
503-823-7740, fax 503-823-6995
Spill Protection and Citizen Response Hotline: (24-hour)
503-823-7180
officer@bes.ci.portland.or.us
City of Portland Bureau of Development Services, Enforcement and Compliance:
503-823-7300
Washington County, Clean Water Services, Inspection Services:
503-681-4444
Clackamas County,Water Environment Services: 503-353-4567
Compliance Services: 503-557-2839, fax 503-557-2840
Multnomah County, Planning:
503-988-3043, fax 503-988-3389
Natural Resources Conservation Service Oregon
Multnomah County: 503-326-3941
Clackamas County: 503-353-4567, fax 503-353-4565
Washington County (Tualatin):
503-648-3174, fax 503-640-1332
Washington: 360-883-1987, fax 360-885-2284
Clark County: Clark County, Water Resources:
360-397-2375 ext. 4559, fax 360-397-2011
Vancouver, Public Works:
360-696-8152, fax 360-696-8959
City of Vancouver
Sewer Lines and Combined Sewer Overflows
Spills and Hazardous Material
Other Water Resource Organizations
Illegal Dumping