Call a plumber to respond. If the problem/blockage was in the public right-of-way OLWS may reimburse for repair costs. To determine where a clog in your plumbing might be located, the first thing to do is to check out which areas of your plumbing are not draining. If only one or two drains are slow and the rest are working well, then the clog is within your house or building plumbing, and not in the OLWS line. If all of your drains are slow or clogged, then the problem may be in the OLWS system.

The green paint is to locate a sanitary sewer utility line. Most often your property or an adjacent property is being sold and the utilities located to assure the “for sale” sign is not installed over or into a utility line.

If you need to request a locate please call 811 or visit https://call811.com

Please contact a plumber to investigate. If the problem/blockage was in the public right-of-way, OLWS may reimburse for repair costs. If you have a sewer odor in your house, first make sure all the traps in your drains have water in them. If you have any rarely used drains in your home, run the tap for a bit to refill the P-trap.

If that doesn't resolve the issue, make sure that there are no leaking drain pipes underneath your house. If there is a leak, contact a plumber.

If you still need help or have questions, please call us at (503) 654-7765.  

Please contact a plumber to schedule a sewer scope. We can't recommend individual plumbers, but we do recommend choosing a business that is licensed and bonded.

You can use Clackamas County Online mapping to find your wastewater service provider.

Yes. The plumber should provide a sewer scope video via email to OLWS at permits@olws.org and provide:

• A contact name and phone number
• A reference address
• A description of whether the sewage is flowing from the structure or if it’s backed up. If it’s backed up, please see the directions under“Sewage is coming up out of my sink/toilet or drain” on this page.  The OLWS line maintenance crew will respond within 72 hours of receiving the video.

Our team will determine:

• If there  is a defect(s) in the public right-of-way or easement
• If in the public right-of-way or easement, the repair schedule for the defect(s)

Depending on the situation, the response may be one of the following:

1. OLWS responds and repairs immediately
2. The defect(s) is scheduled for future repair
3. OLWS coordinates with a plumber to perform repairs if the plumber is repairing other defect(s) on the property

In the second and third scenario, OLWS will provide the property owner with a letter acknowledging the repair and OLWS’s authority. This is typically necessary during a property sale or transfer.

Note: A Clackamas County plumbing permit may be needed if all the repair is on private property.

Please call us immediately at (503) 654-7765. We're available 24/7 and are on call on holidays for emergencies.

Please call a plumber to respond. The plumber should provide a sewer scope video via email to OLWS at permits@olws.org and provide:

• A contact name and phone number
• A reference address
• A description of the issue. The OLWS line maintenance crew will respond within 72 hours of receiving the video.

Our team will determine:

• If there  is a defect(s) in the public right-of-way or easement
• If in the public right-of-way or easement, the repair schedule for the defect(s)

Depending on the situation, the response may be one of the following:

1. OLWS responds and repairs immediately
2. The defect(s) is scheduled for future repair
3. OLWS coordinates with a plumber to perform repairs if the plumber is repairing other defect(s) on the property

In the second and third scenarios, OLWS will provide the property owner with a letter acknowledging the repair and OLWS’s authority. This is typically necessary during a property sale or transfer.

Note: A Clackamas County plumbing permit may be needed if all the repair is on private property.

The plumber should provide a sewer scope video via email to OLWS at permits@olws.org and provide:

• A contact name and phone number
• A reference address
• A description of the issue. The OLWS line maintenance crew will respond within 72 hours of receiving the video.

Our team will determine:

• If there  is a defect(s) in the public right-of-way or easement
• If in the public right-of-way or easement, the repair schedule for the defect(s)

Depending on the situation, the response may be one of the following:

1. OLWS responds and repairs immediately
2. The defect(s) is scheduled for future repair
3. OLWS coordinates with a plumber to perform repairs if the plumber is repairing other defect(s) on the property

In the second and third scenarios, OLWS will provide the property owner with a letter acknowledging the repair and OLWS’s authority. This is typically necessary during a property sale or transfer.

Note: A Clackamas County plumbing permit may be needed if all the repair is on private property.

Many of the OLWS sewer mains are located in road rights-of-way. Others run through sewer easements that cross private property. OLWS has maps showing the location of sewer lines and the laterals off those main lines that provide service to homes and businesses. OLWS also has an extensive file of individual accounts, most of which have maps showing the general location of the private building sewers serving individual properties. If you would like to see this information for your home or business, visit the OLWS Technical Services building at 14611 SE River Rd, Oak Grove, OR 97267. A staff member will help locate your property records.