Portland gets about 37″ of rain a year and the majority of downspouts are connected to our over-taxed sewer system. The Big Pipe project will help but not solve the overflow into the Willamette River during periods of heavy rain.
The City’s Downspout Disconnection Program is another way of helping reduce the flow into sewers. So far, according to the brochure, 57,000 homes have disconnected. The city will do the disconnection for free for you or pay you to do it.
Not only that, once you do it, you can get a reduction on your sewer bill:
Clean River Rewards is Portland’s stormwater utility discount program. With Clean River Rewards, Portland ratepayers can save money and work for clean rivers and healthy watersheds at the same time.
If you manage stormwater on your property, you can receive up to a 100% discount on your on-site stormwater management charges because your actions help protect rivers, streams and groundwater from the damaging effect of stormwater runoff.
Through Clean River Rewards, the City and Portland citizens are working together for clean rivers. The rewards are reduced stormwater charges for citizens, as well as cleaner water, healthy watersheds and more livable communities today and for future generations.
The problem many who live on slopes (or at the base of slopes) is that the % of permeable service is decreasing and dis-connected downspouts are supersaturating the soil. Saturated soil is prone to slippage and erosion.
Just because the City wants you to do something doesn’t mean it is a good idea.
Anybody know what the discount is?
I noticed that a huge chunk of our water bill is for sewage, and I’m all for saving money, but not if it then causes basement flooding or other issues. Plus I’m a renter and might not be authorized to do this. but i certainly wouldn’t sign up without knowing the discount.
Outsider- It’s for the stormwater management fees, not the larger sanitary sewer fees.
“If you manage stormwater on your property, you can receive up to a 100% discount on your on-site stormwater management charges because your actions help protect rivers, streams and groundwater from the damaging effect of stormwater runoff.”