Dear Valued Customer,
I hope you are enjoying the summer after our region’s wettest spring in several decades.
Despite all that rain, your friends at Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES) were fully prepared to prevent any possibility of disruptions to the wastewater treatment services you depend on every day of the year.
As dedicated stewards of our environment, WES prides itself on being resilient and ready for any challenges that may come our way, such as 2021’s historic ice storm and record-shattering heatwave. It’s our job to ensure that residents and visitors enjoy the benefits of safe, healthy water for generations to come.
This summer, I hope you’re able to get outside and enjoy Clackamas County’s many beautiful natural areas and waterways. The WES-SOLVE Summer Waterway Cleanups series is once again underway to keep these areas clean and healthy. Please watch the new video in this newsletter to learn how WES is proudly partnering with SOLVE and the volunteers who inspire us with their commitment to protecting our shared environment.
Also making a difference will be this year’s 12 recipients of grants from our RiverHealth Stewardship Program. In this newsletter, you will learn about the community groups and organizations that will use the grants for projects that will improve the health of our watersheds. We are honored to partner with these everyday environmental heroes.
WES continues to partner with cities to reduce Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) in sewer systems owned by cities in the WES Service Area. I&I is rainwater or groundwater that enters the sewer through damaged pipes or improper service connections, increasing the amount of water that flows into our wastewater treatment facilities, where it can damage our equipment.
Significantly reducing I&I over the next 20 years can save more than $100 million in costs, with the savings being passed on to our customers.
Partnerships are powerful, and education empowers people to help make a difference. WES is proud to share information in this newsletter that we trust you’ll find interesting, informative and helpful.
It is our pleasure and privilege to serve you and update you on WES’ projects and daily efforts to protect public health and our environment.
From our family to yours, WES wishes you a very happy and safe summer.
Sincerely,
Greg Geist
Director, Clackamas Water Environment Services