1. When did Oak Lodge Sanitary District start its Surface Water Management (SWM) program, and what is its purpose?

The District has operated its Surface Water Management (SWM) program since July, 1993. The purpose of the program is to coordinate the operation, maintenance, repair, planning, and improvement of the public storm sewer system within the District’s service area, and ensure that it is managed in conformance with the federal National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit issued under the provisions of the National Clean Water Act. The SWM program personnel will be happy to investigate your problem, suggest a solution, resolve it if possible, or refer it to the proper agency for follow-up.

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2. I don't have storm sewers in front of my house. Why do I have to pay Water Management charges?

Because these are District-wide services, the service fees are billed on a flat rate. All single-family residences within the District pay the same rate ($6.00 per month), and all commercial/multi-residential/industrial sites pay a flat rate of $6/month/2,500 square feet of impervious surface. Impervious surfaces are roof area, drive and roadways, and parking lots. The 2,500 square foot figure was arrived at in a survey done for Clackamas County which determined that the average square footage of impervious surface at a singe-family residential site was 2,500 square feet.

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3. What are the various types of surface water problems and who is responsible for dealing with them?

There are several types of surface water problems. Some of them are listed below:

a. Erosion problems such as silt or mud leaving private property and entering your property, the public storm sewer system or streams within the District. Through its Erosion Control program the District will investigate the problem and work with the owner of the property from which the erosion originates in order to stop it.

b. Spill of pollutants onto your property or into the public storm sewer system or streams within the District. The District will investigate the problem and call in the local fire district and/or the State Department of Environmental Quality if necessary to assist with the investigation and cleanup. Clackamas County Fire District No. 1 can be reached by calling 911 in an emergency and the Oregon Emergency Response System can be reached by calling 1-800-452-0311. In non-emergency cases you can reach the Clackamas County Fire District No. 1 offices by calling 655-8534.

c. Surface water originating on your property from rain or springs on your property. You are responsible for collecting your surface water and conveying it to the nearest storm sewer just as you are responsible for the pipes which bring sewage from your home to the District’s nearest sewer main. The District can suggest alternatives for helping you collect and convey that surface water to the nearest storm sewer system or a soakage trench or drywell which you would construct on your property.

d. Surface water originating on adjacent private property and flowing to your property. The District will investigate the problem and suggest methods for the surface water to be routed to the nearest storm sewer. However, it is up to the private property owner on whose property the surface water originates to dispose of it properly. If the water comes from building foundations or downspouts, the problem can be referred to the Clackamas County Plumbing Department (650-3257). Otherwise, the only recourse is to take the issue to civil court.

e. Surface water from a stream or pipe passing through my property which carries water from several properties upstream. The District will investigate the problem to determine what it is, what caused it, and what the alternatives may be for resolving it. If the District determines that the problem affects the public storm sewer system, and there is an easement for the District to enter your property or you grant permission for the District to enter your property, the District will attempt to resolve the problem. It may require a long term fix, such as a new pipe to re-route the water to an existing street right-of-way. If so, the project will be incorporated into the District’s capital improvement plan. However, due to a backlog of current projects and a lack of funding, it may be at least ten years before the needed facilities can be constructed.

f. Surface water enters your property from the nearest street or there is a problem with a catch basin or a pipe in the nearby street. The District will investigate the problem and if there is a simple solution, such as cleaning a pipe or catch basin, the work will be done as soon as possible. If more complicated, the District will refer the problem to the agency responsible for the maintenance of that particular roadway. If the problem requires a new pipe or other new storm sewer facilities, the District will try to include those facilities in its long term capital improvements program described above.

g. What are the different types of streets within the district and who is responsible for surface water problems on those streets?

There are four basic types of roadways within the District:

• Oregon State Highway: McLoughlin Boulevard is the only State Highway within the District, and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is responsible for it.
  
  
• County Roads: Clackamas County Department of Transportation and Development has assumed responsibility for certain roads within the County which meet its standards for construction. These roads are listed on the District’s official road map, and the District can help you determine if your street is a County road.
  
  
• Public Roads: These are roads which the adjacent property owners own to the center of the road, and have granted permission for the public to use. The adjacent property owners own the street and surface water facilities and are responsibility for their maintenance and repair. However, the District will assist in the maintenance, repair, and upgrade of the surface water facilities in public roads as its maintenance and capital improvement funds permit.
  
  
• Private Roads: These are roads which property owners own and specifically exclude the public from using. The owners are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their road and all associated surface water facilities unless a public easement has been granted to the District for maintenance, repair, or replacement of the facilities.

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4. I still have a surface water problem at my property. Can you help?

We'll be happy to help you as best we can. Please call us at 503-653-1653 and give us the details of your problem, and your name, address, and telephone number. An office staff member will initiate a Customer Service Request, and a field staff member will investigate your problem as soon as time permits, and discuss with your what the problem is and how it may be resolved.

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