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Clackamas WES reports steady finances, new outfall and upcoming pump station work
Summary
Clackamas Water Environment Services told West Linn council it treated roughly 7 billion gallons last year, won statewide finance and agency awards, and will start force-main work in 2027 and pump-station construction in 2028; wholesale rates rose 4.9%, about $1.55/month for the typical West Linn household.
Clackamas Water Environment Services Director Greg Geist told the West Linn City Council that WES's core mission is to treat regional wastewater, produce electricity from treatment processes and distribute biosolids for agricultural use. "We take what goes down in the toilets, and the businesses and the showers in West Linn, and we make...we make clean water out of it," Geist said during the July 7 work session.
Geist said the agency serves roughly 200,000 people across Clackamas County, manages about 359 miles of sanitary sewer pipe (WES systemwide), and treats about 7,000,000,000 gallons of wastewater per year. He highlighted recent honors including awards from the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies and the Government Finance Officers Association and stressed WES's focus on long-range facilities and financial planning.
On finances, Geist reported WES received a 4.9% wholesale rate increase this year. "We received a 4.9% rate increase this year, or a dollar 55 per month for the average homeowner here in West Linn," he said, adding the agency aims for steady, predictable adjustments backed by policy. Councilors and staff discussed options for public tours and communications to help customers understand investments.
Geist described major completed and upcoming capital projects: the Tri City Outfall expansion (upgraded from an approximately 5-foot to a 7-foot outfall and placed into full-time service in December), condition-assessment work on the Bolton forcemain followed by slip-lining this summer to address leaks, and a multi-phase Willamette Pump Station program. The force-main phase is slated to start in August 2027 and take about a year; pump-station construction is expected to begin in October 2028 and last about a year, Geist said.
The presentation emphasized outreach: WES staff have conducted property-owner interviews, direct mailings and neighborhood association briefings since 2023 to prepare for disruptive construction along Willamette Falls Drive. Councilors thanked WES for the briefing and for partnering on outreach to affected neighborhoods.
