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

Call a plumber to respond. If the problem/blockage was in the public right-of-way OLWS may reimburse for repair costs. The first thing to do if you have a sewer odor in your house is to make sure that all of the traps in your drains have water in them. If there is a drain that you seldom use, such as a shower or sink that rarely get use, run water into that drain for a bit. That may well clear up the problem. The other thing to do is to check under your house and make sure that there are no leaking drain pipes there. Leaking pipes underneath your house are not the responsibility of OLWS. You should contact a plumber to repair those problems. If none of these tests or checks tell you the problem, please call our office at (503) 654-7765.  

Call a plumber to respond. OLWSD cannot recommend individual plumbers, but we recommend businesses that are licensed and bonded.

Clackamas County Online mapping will list the sewer provider, or contact OLWS at (503) 654-7765.   

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;
• State if the sewerage is flowing from the structure or if it’s backed up. If it’s backed up, please see the following directions  “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.

They will determine the following:

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

The response may be one of the following:

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

If either #2 or #3 response is enacted, OLWSD will provide the property owner with a letter acknowledging the repair and OLWSD’s authority. This is typically needed during a property sale or transfer.

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

Contact OLWS immediately by phone at (503) 654-7765. For After Hours Emergencies call the same number for on-call response: (503) 654-7765.

The plumber should provide a sewer scope video via email to OLWS at Permits@olws.org and provide a contact phone number and name and a reference address and state if the sewerage is flowing from the structure or if it’s backed up.  If it’s backed up, please see the following directions  “Sewage is coming up out of my sink/toilet or drain” on this page.  The OLWSD line maintenance crew will respond within 72 hours of receiving the video. 

They will determine the following:

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

The response may be one of the following:

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

If either #2 or #3 response is enacted, OLWSD will provide the property owner with a letter acknowledging the repair and OLWSD’s authority.  This is typically needed 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 to OLWS. The defect(s) location need to be determined as being in the public right-of-way or on private property. A Clackamas County plumbing permit may be needed if all the repair is on private property. Please click here for additional information.

The plumber should provide a sewer scope video via email to OLWS at Permits@olws.org and provide a contact phone number and name and a reference address and state if the sewerage is flowing from the structure or if it’s backed up. If it’s backed up, please see the following directions “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. 

They will determine the following:

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

The response may be one of the following:

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

If either #2 or #3 response is enacted, OLWS will provide the property owner with a letter acknowledging the repair and OLWS authority. This is typically needed 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 are located in sewer easements that cross private property. The District has maps showing the location of sewer lines, and the location of laterals off of those main lines that provide service for 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, simply come by the OLWS Planning & Development Building at 14611 SE River Rd, Oak Grove, OR 97267 and ask to see the records for your property. Contact OLWS Technical Services team at (503) 654-7765.