How we keep the region lush and green while delivering essential public services
When you kayak along the river or take a stroll through your neighborhood park, you may not realize the critical infrastructure just below the surface, hiding underground and carrying wastewater to a treatment facility or stormwater to a nearby waterway. These underground pipes aren’t meant to be noticed. They quietly deliver essential services, keeping the community livable and clean. Many of these lush and thriving natural spaces were once construction sites. The sanitary sewer and stormwater pipes we all rely on had to be installed to support the new communities we now call home. This required digging up large areas of land. The work continues long after the dirt is filled back in, not just after the pipe is installed.
Revegetation is an essential phase of our construction process. Without replanting, the region would be quickly eroded by wind and rain, pipes underground would become exposed to the elements, more pollutants that are typically filtered out by plants would make it to the river, and many local parks and green spaces would be mounds of dirt. This also means failing to meet the strict standards set by our first-of-its-kind, watershed-based National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Clean Water Services (CWS) is dedicated to not only protecting public health by installing and maintaining our critical infrastructure but also enhancing the natural environment where this infrastructure is. That’s why you often see CWS crews at project sites years after construction has ended.
Revegetation is also something you can do at home to support local wildlife and the overall health of the Tualatin River Watershed. As natural areas have been developed for farms, homes, and businesses, many beneficial native plants and the connective habitat they provide have been removed. You can help keep the watershed healthy and strong by reintroducing native plants in your yard.
Join our pool of contractors!
A Request for Proposals (RFP) is open now! If you own or work for a landscaping, vegetation, or project management business or company, apply to be part of our pool of contractors. A valid email address and an account with Bid Locker are required.
Read our Working With CWS Fact Sheet for more general information.
