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Back in 1986, the first Top Gun movie hit theaters, The Oprah Winfrey Show launched across the country, and the Tri-City Water Resource Recovery Facility opened its doors.
The Tri-City Water Resource Recovery Facility replaced obsolete treatment plants in Oregon City and West Linn. Now, it cleans over 11 million gallons of wastewater every day before safely releasing treated water into the Willamette River.
Why is this so important? Clean water and good sanitation greatly reduce the spread of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and hepatitis A- illnesses that were historically major causes of death for infants and children. In the early 1900s, clean water alone reduced infant deaths in the U.S. by about three-quarters.
More than 11,300 readers of the British Medical Journal said the sanitary revolution, clean water and proper sewage disposal, was the most important medical breakthrough since 1840. They even ranked it higher than antibiotics, anesthesia, and vaccines.
Forty years ago, the goal was to create a regional wastewater system for Gladstone, Oregon City, and West Linn. The Tri-City Water Resource Recovery Facility began a partnership between Clackamas County, these cities, and nearby areas to work toward a clean water future.
WES’s vision is to be a collaborative partner – and that vision is our reality today. The facility has expanded and improved over the years as new technology and changing regulations have shaped our work. We will keep growing and adapting in the future, but our mission stays the same:
Clackamas Water Environment Services produces clean water, protects water quality and recovers renewable resources. We do this by providing wastewater services, stormwater management, and environmental education. It's our job to protect public health and support the vitality of our communities, natural environment and economy.
