BeavertonOregon.gov/PublicWorks
Storm Drains—
Frequently Asked Questions
The City will investigate the storm drain systems and can dye test if necessary. You may also be able to determine if your house is connected. If you have curbs with holes in them at the street level, dump water into your gutters on a dry day, then watch in the street for the water to flow out onto the curb/street. However, if your house is lower than the street you will probably need to ask us for assistance.
Yes, we may be able to investigate. However, it will be the property owner's responsibility to repair the drainage system.
As all of us become more aware of potential water pollution problems, we recognize that we can all do our part to eliminate water contamination. The storm drain system is designed for rainwater that falls from the clouds not contaminated material. Remember, the storm water flows into our creeks and rivers and eventually into the ocean.
No, however, the Storm Drainage Maintenance program provides customer assistance and will investigate your situation and provide options that could help you resolve your water problems. Note: The City is not responsible for private property issues, but will assist you if an adjacent property is purposely dumping water onto your property.
Our City has two main creeks, Beaverton and Fanno. Beaverton Creek flows mostly west from the City to the Tualatin River and collects water from the northerly portion of the City. Fanno Creek flows south from the City to the Tualatin River and collects water from the southerly portion of the City. The Tualatin River flows into the Willamette River, which flows into the Columbia River and then out to the Pacific Ocean.
For a spill, emergency personnel are called to assist when the maintenance people determine it to be severe. If it is a small minor spill, the control or containment is the first priority of the City's storm drainage maintenance staff. It is our job to determine who is responsible for the spill and get them to take care of the clean up work.
General creek maintenance is the responsibility of the abutting property owners. The City has minimal maintenance areas on the creeks.
It depends on whether the detention pond is private or public. The City maintains all public detention ponds. See list of the public detention ponds (PDF).
There are hundreds of ponds throughout the City. Some are publicly maintained, some are privately maintained, and some are not maintained at all. If you have such a pond and are not able to determine who is responsible for the maintenance, we should be able to identify ownership.
It is the holding back of rainwater in the conveyance system and then releasing it at a slower rate into the storm drain.
Yes, the storm drain markers are available to anyone interested in marking the front of the catch basins. Unfortunately, we can only supply the stencil, the paint is your responsibility.
The manhole is used for access to the system for maintenance and possibly for direction of flow change, grade change or other pipe connections to the system.
The Storm Section responsibilities include: flood control and response; 24-hour emergency response and repair; reconstruction, maintenance, mowing and weeding of storm water detention and water quality facilities; removing siltation from above ground drainage systems; constructing and replacing storm system pipes and facilities; sweeping all improved public streets (six times per year); and cleaning two-thirds of the public catch basins annually.
The City of Beaverton Storm Drainage Collection Systems Maintenance Section is responsible for the maintenance of all water quality facilities (PDF) located within single family developments. For questions or request for maintenance, contact the Storm Drainage Section at (503) 526-2568.
Frequently Asked Questions
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