Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Portland Celebrates Year Without Sewage Overflow

1/31/2025

23 5

Summary

Story summary

Portland proudly marks a year free from sewage overflow into the Willamette River, a triumph of the $1.4 billion Big Pipe Project completed in 2011. This monumental effort slashed E. coli levels and reduced overflow incidents from 50 to just four each year. Additionally, the city’s green infrastructure initiatives now redirect a staggering 1.2 billion gallons of stormwater, showcasing a commitment to a cleaner environment.

1 of 1

Story summary

Portland proudly marks a year free from sewage overflow into the Willamette River, a triumph of the $1.4 billion Big Pipe Project completed in 2011. This monumental effort slashed E. coli levels and reduced overflow incidents from 50 to just four each year. Additionally, the city’s green infrastructure initiatives now redirect a staggering 1.2 billion gallons of stormwater, showcasing a commitment to a cleaner environment.