Pilot Dewatering Equipment Trial at East End Facility

Notice: Pilot Dewatering Equipment Trial at East End Facility

Beginning in mid-July and continuing through mid-August, the Portland Water District will be conducting a pilot project to evaluate dewatering equipment at our East End Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Dewatering is a critical step in the wastewater treatment process that removes water from the solids. Dewatering reduces the volume of material needing disposal, making the process more efficient and cost-effective.

This trial will involve five different vendors operating on-site over five consecutive weeks. Each vendor will deploy trailered centrifuge units that will process material in the parking area. As these operations will take place outdoors, intermittent odors may occur.

We are taking proactive measures to minimize odor impacts during this project, including:

• Storing containers indoors overnight
• Applying a specialized deodorizing agent to help neutralize odors
• Emptying and rinsing tanks on a daily basis to prevent buildup

Despite these efforts, some level of odor may be unavoidable during the duration of the project.

We appreciate your understanding as we undertake this important trial to inform future decisions about dewatering system upgrades.

We maintain an odor reporting form, which we encourage the public to complete at https://www.pwd.org/odor-management. Every odor report is logged, investigated, and, whenever possible, addressed through corrective actions.

For any additional questions or concerns, please contact us at the East End Wastewater Treatment Facility at dprice@pwd.org.