Public Works Resources

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING STORM DRAINS

The quality of the rivers and streams in and around the city is important to us all. To help preserve and improve the quality of these waterways we need to ensure that the only thing that goes down a storm drain is rainwater. Please do not dump anything down a storm drain. In particular the dumping of antifreeze, oil, washing solutions, or RV holding tank wastes. These can cause significant environmental harm if dumped down a storm drain. If you see such activity, please help us by reporting it to the City Wastewater Treatment staff at 503-397-2344 (6:00 AM to 4:30 PM, M-F) or page us at 503-366-3104 during off-hours or emergencies.

PREVENT FREEZING PIPES

During freezing temperatures water pipes can easily freeze and cause damage to your residence or business. This is a courtesy reminder to take precautions to prevent this from happening to you:

• Leave your under sink cabinet doors open, especially if the sinks are against outside walls. This keeps the pipes under the sink warm.
• League your kitchen and/or bathroom water faucet trickling; sometimes a drip isn't enough.
• Trip to keep the temperature in your hom at a minimum of 60 degrees.
• Insulate open areas around your house that could allow freezing air into your pipes.
• Close outside vents.
• Disconnect hoses from bibs and cover bibs. You can do this easily with a towel and rope or rubber bands if you don't have the styrofoam vent covers.
• Find a way to heat your garage.

If you experience freezing pipes, call the St. Helens dispatch number at 503-397-1521. Do not tamper with your water meter. If you pipes are frozen you may be able to use a blow dryer (never a torch) to blow hot air on the meter to warm it up. Please call dispatch prior to attempting to thaw pipes or meters using this method though.

For more tips about preventing freezing pipes, please visit The Weather Channel.