Clean water is essential for life. Have you ever wondered how Hillsboro’s waterways stay clean and healthy?

The City of Hillsboro partners with Clean Water Services, or CWS, which provides sanitary sewer and surface water management services to over 600,000 people in our region.

In Hillsboro, the City partners with CWS to provide services, then bills the rates set by the Clean Water Services Board through the City’s utility bill. Those services include:

Wastewater Treatment: Collecting and treating wastewater from homes, businesses, and industries, CWS removes pollutants and contaminants from wastewater through advanced processes and then releases the clean water back into the Tualatin River.

Stormwater Management: Managing stormwater runoff helps prevent flooding, protect water quality, and reduce pollution in local waterways. CWS implements green infrastructure projects, such as rain gardens and permeable pavement, to absorb and filter stormwater before it reaches rivers and streams.

Water Reuse: CWS operates four water resource recovery facilities that treat wastewater to a high standard. A portion of the treated water is reused for irrigation on golf courses, parks, school athletic fields, and for wetland plants and ecological restoration. This conserves freshwater resources and reduces the demand on drinking water supplies.

Water Quality Monitoring: CWS monitors the water quality in rivers, streams, and groundwater sources to identify pollution sources, tracks trends in water quality, and ensures compliance with environmental regulations.

Environmental Stewardship: Habitat restoration projects, invasive species management, and watershed protection initiatives are part of CWS’ conservation work in the region.

Community Outreach & Education: Educational programs, workshops, and outreach events raise awareness about water conservation, pollution prevention, and environmental sustainability.

Emergency Response: If flooding, spills, or sewer backups occur, CWS provides rapid response and assistance to mitigate community impacts and restore services as quickly as possible.

CWS works closely with the City of Hillsboro’s Public Works Department and Water Department to safeguard public health, protect the environment, and ensure clean and reliable water resources are available for our community.

Save the Dates

Clean Water Service’s proposed Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget, including any proposed rate changes, is available for review online. Customers are invited and encouraged to take part in the budget process.

Thursday, May 9, 2024

The CWS Budget Committee will review the proposed budget, consider approval, and make recommendations to the Board.

Thursday, June 18, 2024

The CWS Board will hold a public hearing to consider and adopt the budget.

Monday, July 1, 2024

Any approved rate changes would go into effect.

Read more Finance 101 articles

• Finance 101: Revenues & Services in Hillsboro

• Finance 101: Hillsboro's General Fund

• Finance 101: Transportation Utility Fee (TUF)

• Finance 101: Surface Water Management (SWM)

• Finance 101: Transient Lodging Tax (TLT)

• Finance 101: Tax Increment Financing (TIF)

• Finance 101: Clean Water Services

• Finance 101: Water Rates

• Finance 101: System Development Charges (SDCs)