How is the Southwood Park Water District organized?  
The Southwood Park Water District is a special district located in unincorporated Clackamas County. It was established to provide water for domestic use and fire protection to the inhabitants of the District serving 298 connections. The District is governed by an elected five-member Board of Commissioners drawn from the residents of the District. An outside accountant provides budgeting, record keeping, and reporting. Maintenance and operational services are contracted through Northwest Natural Water, formerly Hiland Water Corporation.

Who can I contact if I need temporary financial assistance to pay my water bill?
Contact 211 or St, Vincent De Paul Society in Portland is a resource that may be able to help. Contact them at https://www.svdppdx.org/utilities for more information.

What does the water cost?
The Southwood Park Water District base rate (meter charge) is $50.00 per month. The usage rate is $2.75 per hundred cubic feet. The late fee is $5.00.  

Why does the water occasionally look rusty or discolored?
Rusty or discolored water can come from many sources. Older homes may have galvanized piping made of iron, which corrodes over time. Rust particles can turn your water pale yellow to dark brown. Well water usually contains various dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, all of which can contribute to discoloration. The minerals can precipitate out of the water and cling to the interior walls of the storage tank, distribution lines, and home plumbing. Sudden changes in water flow or pressure can break the minerals loose, which could alter the color of the water. Although it looks bad, this discoloration is not harmful. Your water will generally clear after a few minutes of flushing. 
 
Why does the water smell like chlorine?  
Chlorine is used by water utilities throughout the world to prevent disease-causing microorganisms from growing inside water lines. There may be an odor of chlorine when you first turn on your tap, especially in the morning. However, that odor usually dissipates rapidly. If you use a pitcher, you can let water set open for a few minutes to allow the chlorine to dissipate. Also, boiling the water for coffee or tea causes the chlorine to dissipate. If you are extremely sensitive to the taste or smell of chlorine, you can use an activated carbon filter to remove it from tap water. Filters can be purchased as part of a water pitcher or as an attachment to the faucet. If you purchase a filter, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Chlorine, when used for disinfecting in certain waters, may produce harmful by-products. We tested for nine of the most common by-products and none were detected. 
 
Do I need a backflow device?  
Under certain conditions, water from a home or business can flow backwards and return to the public water system. Properties with an in-ground sprinkler system, active well, fire sprinkler system or solar water heating system are required to have a backflow prevention device. A backflow prevention device reduces the risk of contamination by preventing water from flowing back into the public water system. The District has a proactive cross-connection control program that, in coordination with county and city plumbing inspectors, is designed to make sure that backflow prevention devices are installed where they are needed and that the devices are tested annually to verify they work properly.  Making sure your backflow prevention device is tested annually is just one way you can help reduce the risk of contamination of our drinking water.  Contact Northwest Natural Water at 503-554-8333 for more information.  

What is hydrant flushing?
To help ensure quality water, staff members open fire hydrants around the District and allow the water to flow through the pipes. The flushing process enhances water quality by flushing sediment from the mainline pipes, verifies the proper operation of hydrants and valves, and maintains firefighting capability. We schedule flushing during the wetter months when water supplies are more plentiful. We flush from larger mains first and then move to smaller mains. The flushing route is carefully planned, and valves are opened and closed to control the direction of the water. For more information about Hydrant Flushing, contact Northwest Natural Water at 503-554-8333.