About the District
Clark Regional Wastewater District (the District) is one of the largest sewer districts in the state of Washington serving more than 125,000 people. The District operates and maintains a large collection system that consists of more than 900 miles of sewer lines and 70 pump stations. The District operates the Salmon Creek and Ridgefield wastewater treatment plants where approximately 10-12 million gallons of wastewater generated by homes and businesses is effectively treated each day.
Importantly, the District is the managing agency for the Discovery Clean Water Alliance (Alliance). This partnership between the Cities of Battle Ground and Ridgefield, Clark County, and Clark Regional Wastewater District centralizes wastewater transmission and treatment. This collaboration allows for more efficient and cost-effective operations, which means lower costs to customers. The Salmon Creek facility serves as the primary treatment hub for the Alliance.
We are committed to preserving and protecting the health of the Columbia River. The Salmon Creek treatment facility has been consistently recognized by the Washington State Department of Ecology for 100% environmental compliance for nearly 20 years.
Wastewater management is crucial to protect public health, prevent disease, and safeguard the environment by safely collecting and treating wastewater to state water quality standards before returning it to nature. Without these vital, often invisible, systems and facilities—and the professionals who operate them—our community would face severe health and environmental crises.
- Public Health Protection: Prevents human exposure to bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens found in raw sewage, reducing the risk of illness. Wastewater treatment and management removes harmful contaminants from wastewater before they enter waterways where they can build up in fish and wildlife, potentially landing on our plates later.
- Environmental Stewardship: Stops uncontrolled sewage from polluting lakes, rivers, and water bodies which could harm aquatic ecosystems and wildlife. This also means avoiding sewage overflows into streams and streets (which can happen during large rain events).
- A Healthy Economy: Builds sewer infrastructure to provide shovel-ready land that attracts new business, fueling job growth and economic opportunity regionally. This strengthens our local economy and helps ensure a thriving community. The District strives to provide wastewater services in a financially responsible manner.
- Planning for the Future: Makes strategic investments and thoughtful rate adjustments to address the highest risks in our wastewater systems first. This reduces the need for costly emergency repairs later, ensuring customer dollars make the greatest impact.
Since 1958, the District has delivered reliable wastewater service at a competitive cost—providing lasting value to our customers while adapting to the needs of the community. Our commitment to environmental stewardship is demonstrated every day. We protect the Columbia River by ensuring that treated wastewater that’s returned to the river consistently meets or exceeds rigorous state standards.
We take our responsibility to protect the environment seriously. Every day, we treat wastewater to strict standards before returning it to the Columbia River and returning biosolids to the land. Biosolids are recycled, nutrient-rich materials made from treated sewage. After being treated to state and federal standards to remove germs and bacteria, they are used as safe fertilizer for our soil. Together, this protects water quality, wildlife, and the health of our region. We also prevent pollution through our septic system elimination program, Frog and FOGG programs, and encouraging proper waste disposal (in other words, trash goes in trash cans, not the toilet, and hazardous waste is disposed of correctly).
Addressing issues now costs less than dealing with emergency repairs later. We regularly maintain and monitor the condition of our pipes and treatment facilities, to proactively restore and replace aging pipes, manholes, and pumps—before failures occur. Our Capital Improvement Program identifies and prioritizes major projects, keeping us prepared and providing foresight into any future necessary rate adjustments. Additionally, we support residents with high-risk septic systems to connect to the District’s system through grants and payment programs. This prevents leaking tanks from polluting groundwater and local streams.
The District actively promotes source control and pollution prevention by encouraging consumers to choose products without PFAS, dispose of items properly, and advocate for manufacturers to stop using these chemicals. To eliminate PFAS long-term, manufacturers must stop using them in products. The District monitors PFAS levels closely and stays up to date on current and emerging regulations for testing and monitoring from the state Department of Ecology and the U.S. EPA. For more information, visit our Pollution Prevention page.
The Alliance is a partnership between the cities of Battle Ground and Ridgefield, Clark County, and Clark Regional Wastewater District (District). Together, they manage regional wastewater transmission and treatment infrastructure, with the District serving as the managing agency and overseeing operations at the Salmon Creek and Ridgefield treatment facilities. By pooling resources, we keep costs lower for all customers through regional cooperation. Learn more at discoverycwa.org.
In 2010, the District and the City of Vancouver signed the Coordination of Services Agreement (Agreement) which guides ownership, operation and control of the District’s sanitary sewer facilities and customers within annexed areas. The principles in the Agreement were developed over a multi-year period, which included public outreach and presentations. The Agreement does not promote or accelerate annexation, but rather sets forth a cooperative plan for how the District’s sanitary sewer system and services would be blended into the City, if and when more than 60% of the District area is annexed at some future time.
Sewer Service
Indications of a sewer stoppage include plumbing fixtures that do not drain, sewage backing up into tubs, showers or toilets, or if a sewer cleanout pipe exists next to the home, sewage may be seeping from the sewer cleanout. If any of these occur, please call the District at 360-750-5876, 24-hrs a day, 7 days a week.
When a stoppage occurs, the customer should stop using water and flushing toilets and contact the District immediately at 360-750-5876; this number is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
Maintenance personnel will come out to the site and assess the stoppage to determine if the blockage is on the District’s side of the sewer line or the homeowner’s side of the sewer line (i.e., private property side or street right-of-way side). If the sewer line isn’t in the street, it may be within a “Public Utility Easement”. The jurisdiction of a Public Utility Easement is determined by the distance of the blockage from the District’s “Mainline”.
The District will clear any blockage that occurs in the “District’s Sewer Main”. The District is responsible for sewer laterals from the Sewer main in the street to the “Property Line Cleanout.”
Customers are responsible for the private side sewer located between the house and the property line cleanout and their internal house plumbing. If there is no property line cleanout, the District may use the homeowner’s cleanout next to the home to clear the line.
If there is damage from a sewer backup or overflow and you believe that it is the District’s responsibility, let the Maintenance personnel responding to your backup know. Please then ask the personnel on-site for the claims paperwork. Fill out the claims for damage form, sign it and return it to the District as soon as possible. Determination of fault is reviewed by the Risk Manager and the Adjuster representing the insurance company. Customers are generally responsible for blockages that occur in their building plumbing and in the private side sewer located between the house and the property line cleanout or as a result of their improper use of the sewer system. The claims forms can also be downloaded here:
Yes, the District has copies of most sewer permit drawings. Please contact our engineering department via email or phone at 360-993-8812, and we’ll provide you with a copy.
Step and Grinder systems rely on power to operate the pumps. In the event of a power outage the pumps will not operate and effluent levels in the tank will increase with use. In the event of a power outage, please limit yourself to “light” usage of the system. It is recommended that you do not use the washing machine, dishwasher or take baths and or extended showers. Most systems will have a limited amount of reserve or emergency storage. But, extended use during a power outage could cause a sewer backup. For more information, please see the STEP or Grinder System Resources pages.
The District’s Maintenance department has implemented a preventative maintenance program of sewer cleaning and condition assessment of the entire sewer collection system. The periodic cleaning and televising of the sewer lines in your neighborhood greatly reduce the risk of any grease buildup and/or overflows. Information obtained from the condition assessment is used in the District’s R&R (Restoration & Replacement) program.
FOG comes from many sources both residentially and commercially. In the food industry, “grease” often refers to fats and oils derived from animal and vegetable sources. These include meats, cooking oils, nuts, cereals and beans, as well as waxes and paraffins.
Sewer capacity constraints are frequently caused by improper materials, including fats, oils, and greases being introduced into the sewer system by residents and businesses. The grease will build-up in the sewer pipes, limiting capacity and can ultimately cause a sewer back-up.
Approximately 50-70 percent of all sanitary sewer system overflows are caused by accumulations of fats, oils and greases discharged to it from the preparation and serving of food.
Billing & Rates
Customers are charged a flat base monthly rate per “ERU”. Additional sewer service charges or fees apply for customers located within the incorporated limits of the Cities of Battle Ground, Ridgefield and Vancouver. An ERU is a sewer term for a unit of flow, an “Equivalent Residential Unit” that represents the average flow for a residential household. A detached single-family residence is one (1) ERU. The number of ERUs will vary for business customers based on the characteristics of the business. For more information visit our Rates and Charges page or contact customer service via email at finance@crwwd.com or phone at 360-993-4001.
Residential customers are billed every other month (bi-monthly), for two months of service. Business and Multi-Family customers are billed every month for one month of service.
If the bill is due today, we must receive payment by the end of business hours today. You can put it in our drop box located at our office, 8000 NE 52nd Court. Payments in the drop box that are retrieved the first thing in the morning will be date stamped for the previous day.
Wastewater fees are often structured as a flat rate rather than based on individual usage (like electric utilities). This is because costs for daily operations and maintenance of the infrastructure don’t vary significantly based on the amount of wastewater each home generates. By using a flat fee, the District keeps administrative costs lower, which means lower customer bills.
Because our costs are not heavily influenced by the wastewater volume each house generates, a flat fee keeps everyone’s costs down across all households. Tracking usage by volume or by occupancy would add complexity, raising rates for everyone. This approach aligns with Board policy, which is in accordance with Washington State statute.
Because the flat rate model provides for the lowest cost of service it is the most common model used for residential customers. Locally, in Clark County there are a total of 7 sewer utilities and 4 utilize a flat-rate system for their residential customers, while 3 have consumptive-based rates. The utilities that offer a consumptive based bill almost always still have a “minimum” charge or “base rate”. Also, they are almost always a joint utility, offering both water and sewer service.
The System Integration Charge is the rate charged specifically to cover the capital costs of constructing improvements to connect the collection system in the City of Ridgefield with the District’s system. These improvements ultimately allow for flows to be treated at the Salmon Creek Treatment Plant, which is a much larger and more cost-effective facility. This charge will decrease as growth occurs in Ridgefield and new connections are made to the sewer system, all in accordance with the terms of the “City of Ridgefield and Clark Regional Wastewater District Collection System Transfer and Operating Agreement”.
This is a fee that all City of Battle Ground residents are charged for sewer services in accordance with Battle Ground Municipal Code 3.32.010 and RCW 35A.82.020. This fee is collected by the District and remitted to the City.
This is a fee the City of Vancouver charges the District to operate the collection system within city limits, per the Coordination of Services Agreement. This fee is collected by the District and remitted to the City. It is equivalent to the 6% utility tax that City businesses and residents pay on electricity, phone and natural gas utility bills, which in turn goes to the City’s General Fund to help pay for community services such as police, fire and general street maintenance.
District sewer customers within the annexed area will continue to receive affordable and reliable sanitary sewer service from the District and sewer service will continue to be governed by the District’s regulations, policies and standards at this time. District customers within the City of Vancouver’s corporate limits will pay an additional 6% City Interlocal Fee. For more information about annexation by the City, visit: www.cityofvancouver.us/annexation.
This is a fee the City of Ridgefield charges the District to operate the collection system within the incorporated limits of the City. This fee is collected by the District, but is remitted to the City for franchise, non-compete and non-assumption considerations as specified in the “City of Ridgefield and Clark Regional Wastewater District Collection System Transfer and Operating Agreement”.
Residential Customers
AutoPay, direct debit from your checking account, is the most affordable and efficient way of payment. The District also offers other convenient methods of paying your bill, including online, over the phone, or in person. The District currently accepts cash, check, cashier check, money orders, Visa and MasterCard. For a complete description of all the options available to you, please see the Payment Options page.
- More about payment options
We offer several programs to help make sewer costs more affordable, including a discount for qualifying low-income seniors and financing and payment plans to help cover the cost of connecting to the sewer system. We also offer credits for extended vacancies (when a home is empty), which is available to all customers. Contact our customer service representatives for more information — call 360-993-4001 or email customerservice@crwwd.com.
This requires our Customer Service department to access your account. Please contact the District via email or phone with your account number for more specific information.
Yes, residential customers can simply call 360-993-8800 to use our SelfPay system, which will process your Visa and MasterCard debit or credit card or electronic check payment over the phone. Customers may also contact a customer service representative who will gladly process your payment over the phone. We must receive payment by 5 PM on the date noted on the letter. For your convenience, there is a drop box at our office located at 8000 NE 52nd Court where payments may be securely left for processing.
Sewer service is billed based on the availability of service, and the sewer system is still being operated and maintained whether a property is occupied or vacant. Due to public health reasons, and legal and operational considerations, sewer services cannot simply be turned on or off. We offer credits for extended vacancies (when a home is empty). Contact our customer service representatives for more information — call 360-993-4001 or email customerservice@crwwd.com.
The sewer bill is a lien against the property that has received the service, not an individual that occupied the property.
The District is responsible for our sewer system only.
Information on septic systems can be obtained from Clark County Public Health, which is located at 2000 Ft. Vancouver Way in Vancouver, Washington. You may also contact them via telephone at 360-397-8215 or fax them your questions at 360-397-8424.
Business Customers
Effective January 1, 2026, the base rate sewer service for 1 ERU is $48.00 per month. Depending upon your location, additional charges and fees may apply. Monthly billings for commercial accounts are based on the number of ERU’s for type of business establishment proposed use except in Ridgefield, where it is based on potable water consumption. The Commercial Flow Calculation Form and associated tables provide formulas to convert commercial uses into Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs). For each account, the minimum bill is for 1 ERU of service.
For questions on how your bill is calculated, please contact Engineering Customer Service at 360-993-4000.
For questions related to your commercial billing account, please contact Customer Service at 360-750-5876.
You may also visit the Rates & Charges page for more information.
AutoPay, direct debit from your checking account, is the most affordable and efficient way of payment. The District currently accepts cash, check, cashier check, and money orders from Business and Multi-Family property owners. For a complete description of all the options available to you, please see the Payment Options page.
- More about payment options
We must receive payment by 5 PM on the date noted on the letter. For your convenience, there is a drop box located at our office, 8000 NE 52nd Court, where payments may be securely left for processing.
More information is available on the Tenant Improvements page. Generally, we will need the following items to be submitted:
- Commercial Flow Calculation Form
- Floor/Site Plans
- Plumbing Plans or Isometrics
- Plan Review Fee
- View Connection Charges, Permits, and Inspection Fees
Prior to the District giving Final Occupancy, any comments from the review need to be addressed and applicable connection fees (if any) need to be paid.
If you have questions related to this process, please contact Engineering Customer Service at 360-993-4000.
Connection fees are based on ERUs determined from sewage flow values established in Table 2 of District Code section 5.28.020. The fees are calculated using calculation methods for commercial businesses are set forth in the Commercial Flow Calculation Form. Fees are based on the type of business and which treatment facility the waste will flow to. At a minimum, each building must have paid for 1 ERU. You can contact our Engineering Department at 360-993-8812.
Development Services
To find out if sewer service is available to your property, please complete a Sewer Availability Request form or contact our Engineering Department directly via email or phone at 360-993-8812.
The District maintains an archive containing information on the sewer system in our service area. You can contact our Engineering Department at 360-993-8812.
You must obtain a sewer permit:
- Anytime you are modifying an existing sewer line that is outside of the building.
- If you are installing a new sewer line and connecting to sewer.
In addition, if you are changing the use of your building, additional sewer connection fees may be required.
The cost to connect to sewer varies depending on property location and type of use. Connection fees consist of several different parts, some or all of which may be due prior to connection of your property. These include:
- permit fees
- a Local Facilities Charge (LFC)
- or a Latecomer Reimbursement Charge
- View Connection Charges, Permit, and Inspection Fees
These fees do not include any work that would need to be done on your property, such as laying pipe from a house to the public sewer, or abandoning the current septic system. In addition, if the sewer is not immediately adjacent to your property, construction costs within the public right-of-way may be necessary.
To learn more about these fees or to inquire about a specific property, contact our Engineering Department at 360‑993‑8812.
We do not recommend side sewer contractors; we only have lists of contractors who have been placed on small works rosters for certain District projects. For more information, please contact our Engineering Department at 360-993-8812.
Fees vary based on the type and extent of development. If you have questions about fees and deposits for a current or potential development, please contact our Engineering Department at 360-993-8812.
About the District
Clark Regional Wastewater District (the District) is one of the largest sewer districts in the state of Washington serving more than 125,000 people. The District operates and maintains a large collection system that consists of more than 900 miles of sewer lines and 70 pump stations. The District operates the Salmon Creek and Ridgefield wastewater treatment plants where approximately 10-12 million gallons of wastewater generated by homes and businesses is effectively treated each day.
Importantly, the District is the managing agency for the Discovery Clean Water Alliance (Alliance). This partnership between the Cities of Battle Ground and Ridgefield, Clark County, and Clark Regional Wastewater District centralizes wastewater transmission and treatment. This collaboration allows for more efficient and cost-effective operations, which means lower costs to customers. The Salmon Creek facility serves as the primary treatment hub for the Alliance.
We are committed to preserving and protecting the health of the Columbia River. The Salmon Creek treatment facility has been consistently recognized by the Washington State Department of Ecology for 100% environmental compliance for nearly 20 years.
Wastewater management is crucial to protect public health, prevent disease, and safeguard the environment by safely collecting and treating wastewater to state water quality standards before returning it to nature. Without these vital, often invisible, systems and facilities—and the professionals who operate them—our community would face severe health and environmental crises.
- Public Health Protection: Prevents human exposure to bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens found in raw sewage, reducing the risk of illness. Wastewater treatment and management removes harmful contaminants from wastewater before they enter waterways where they can build up in fish and wildlife, potentially landing on our plates later.
- Environmental Stewardship: Stops uncontrolled sewage from polluting lakes, rivers, and water bodies which could harm aquatic ecosystems and wildlife. This also means avoiding sewage overflows into streams and streets (which can happen during large rain events).
- A Healthy Economy: Builds sewer infrastructure to provide shovel-ready land that attracts new business, fueling job growth and economic opportunity regionally. This strengthens our local economy and helps ensure a thriving community. The District strives to provide wastewater services in a financially responsible manner.
- Planning for the Future: Makes strategic investments and thoughtful rate adjustments to address the highest risks in our wastewater systems first. This reduces the need for costly emergency repairs later, ensuring customer dollars make the greatest impact.
Since 1958, the District has delivered reliable wastewater service at a competitive cost—providing lasting value to our customers while adapting to the needs of the community. Our commitment to environmental stewardship is demonstrated every day. We protect the Columbia River by ensuring that treated wastewater that’s returned to the river consistently meets or exceeds rigorous state standards.
We take our responsibility to protect the environment seriously. Every day, we treat wastewater to strict standards before returning it to the Columbia River and returning biosolids to the land. Biosolids are recycled, nutrient-rich materials made from treated sewage. After being treated to state and federal standards to remove germs and bacteria, they are used as safe fertilizer for our soil. Together, this protects water quality, wildlife, and the health of our region. We also prevent pollution through our septic system elimination program, Frog and FOGG programs, and encouraging proper waste disposal (in other words, trash goes in trash cans, not the toilet, and hazardous waste is disposed of correctly).
Addressing issues now costs less than dealing with emergency repairs later. We regularly maintain and monitor the condition of our pipes and treatment facilities, to proactively restore and replace aging pipes, manholes, and pumps—before failures occur. Our Capital Improvement Program identifies and prioritizes major projects, keeping us prepared and providing foresight into any future necessary rate adjustments. Additionally, we support residents with high-risk septic systems to connect to the District’s system through grants and payment programs. This prevents leaking tanks from polluting groundwater and local streams.
The District actively promotes source control and pollution prevention by encouraging consumers to choose products without PFAS, dispose of items properly, and advocate for manufacturers to stop using these chemicals. To eliminate PFAS long-term, manufacturers must stop using them in products. The District monitors PFAS levels closely and stays up to date on current and emerging regulations for testing and monitoring from the state Department of Ecology and the U.S. EPA. For more information, visit our Pollution Prevention page.
The Alliance is a partnership between the cities of Battle Ground and Ridgefield, Clark County, and Clark Regional Wastewater District (District). Together, they manage regional wastewater transmission and treatment infrastructure, with the District serving as the managing agency and overseeing operations at the Salmon Creek and Ridgefield treatment facilities. By pooling resources, we keep costs lower for all customers through regional cooperation. Learn more at discoverycwa.org.
In 2010, the District and the City of Vancouver signed the Coordination of Services Agreement (Agreement) which guides ownership, operation and control of the District’s sanitary sewer facilities and customers within annexed areas. The principles in the Agreement were developed over a multi-year period, which included public outreach and presentations. The Agreement does not promote or accelerate annexation, but rather sets forth a cooperative plan for how the District’s sanitary sewer system and services would be blended into the City, if and when more than 60% of the District area is annexed at some future time.
Sewer Service
Indications of a sewer stoppage include plumbing fixtures that do not drain, sewage backing up into tubs, showers or toilets, or if a sewer cleanout pipe exists next to the home, sewage may be seeping from the sewer cleanout. If any of these occur, please call the District at 360-750-5876, 24-hrs a day, 7 days a week.
When a stoppage occurs, the customer should stop using water and flushing toilets and contact the District immediately at 360-750-5876; this number is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
Maintenance personnel will come out to the site and assess the stoppage to determine if the blockage is on the District’s side of the sewer line or the homeowner’s side of the sewer line (i.e., private property side or street right-of-way side). If the sewer line isn’t in the street, it may be within a “Public Utility Easement”. The jurisdiction of a Public Utility Easement is determined by the distance of the blockage from the District’s “Mainline”.
The District will clear any blockage that occurs in the “District’s Sewer Main”. The District is responsible for sewer laterals from the Sewer main in the street to the “Property Line Cleanout.”
Customers are responsible for the private side sewer located between the house and the property line cleanout and their internal house plumbing. If there is no property line cleanout, the District may use the homeowner’s cleanout next to the home to clear the line.
If there is damage from a sewer backup or overflow and you believe that it is the District’s responsibility, let the Maintenance personnel responding to your backup know. Please then ask the personnel on-site for the claims paperwork. Fill out the claims for damage form, sign it and return it to the District as soon as possible. Determination of fault is reviewed by the Risk Manager and the Adjuster representing the insurance company. Customers are generally responsible for blockages that occur in their building plumbing and in the private side sewer located between the house and the property line cleanout or as a result of their improper use of the sewer system. The claims forms can also be downloaded here:
Yes, the District has copies of most sewer permit drawings. Please contact our engineering department via email or phone at 360-993-8812, and we’ll provide you with a copy.
Step and Grinder systems rely on power to operate the pumps. In the event of a power outage the pumps will not operate and effluent levels in the tank will increase with use. In the event of a power outage, please limit yourself to “light” usage of the system. It is recommended that you do not use the washing machine, dishwasher or take baths and or extended showers. Most systems will have a limited amount of reserve or emergency storage. But, extended use during a power outage could cause a sewer backup. For more information, please see the STEP or Grinder System Resources pages.
The District’s Maintenance department has implemented a preventative maintenance program of sewer cleaning and condition assessment of the entire sewer collection system. The periodic cleaning and televising of the sewer lines in your neighborhood greatly reduce the risk of any grease buildup and/or overflows. Information obtained from the condition assessment is used in the District’s R&R (Restoration & Replacement) program.
FOG comes from many sources both residentially and commercially. In the food industry, “grease” often refers to fats and oils derived from animal and vegetable sources. These include meats, cooking oils, nuts, cereals and beans, as well as waxes and paraffins.
Sewer capacity constraints are frequently caused by improper materials, including fats, oils, and greases being introduced into the sewer system by residents and businesses. The grease will build-up in the sewer pipes, limiting capacity and can ultimately cause a sewer back-up.
Approximately 50-70 percent of all sanitary sewer system overflows are caused by accumulations of fats, oils and greases discharged to it from the preparation and serving of food.
Billing & Rates
Customers are charged a flat base monthly rate per “ERU”. Additional sewer service charges or fees apply for customers located within the incorporated limits of the Cities of Battle Ground, Ridgefield and Vancouver. An ERU is a sewer term for a unit of flow, an “Equivalent Residential Unit” that represents the average flow for a residential household. A detached single-family residence is one (1) ERU. The number of ERUs will vary for business customers based on the characteristics of the business. For more information visit our Rates and Charges page or contact customer service via email at finance@crwwd.com or phone at 360-993-4001.
Residential customers are billed every other month (bi-monthly), for two months of service. Business and Multi-Family customers are billed every month for one month of service.
If the bill is due today, we must receive payment by the end of business hours today. You can put it in our drop box located at our office, 8000 NE 52nd Court. Payments in the drop box that are retrieved the first thing in the morning will be date stamped for the previous day.
Wastewater fees are often structured as a flat rate rather than based on individual usage (like electric utilities). This is because costs for daily operations and maintenance of the infrastructure don’t vary significantly based on the amount of wastewater each home generates. By using a flat fee, the District keeps administrative costs lower, which means lower customer bills.
Because our costs are not heavily influenced by the wastewater volume each house generates, a flat fee keeps everyone’s costs down across all households. Tracking usage by volume or by occupancy would add complexity, raising rates for everyone. This approach aligns with Board policy, which is in accordance with Washington State statute.
Because the flat rate model provides for the lowest cost of service it is the most common model used for residential customers. Locally, in Clark County there are a total of 7 sewer utilities and 4 utilize a flat-rate system for their residential customers, while 3 have consumptive-based rates. The utilities that offer a consumptive based bill almost always still have a “minimum” charge or “base rate”. Also, they are almost always a joint utility, offering both water and sewer service.
The System Integration Charge is the rate charged specifically to cover the capital costs of constructing improvements to connect the collection system in the City of Ridgefield with the District’s system. These improvements ultimately allow for flows to be treated at the Salmon Creek Treatment Plant, which is a much larger and more cost-effective facility. This charge will decrease as growth occurs in Ridgefield and new connections are made to the sewer system, all in accordance with the terms of the “City of Ridgefield and Clark Regional Wastewater District Collection System Transfer and Operating Agreement”.
This is a fee that all City of Battle Ground residents are charged for sewer services in accordance with Battle Ground Municipal Code 3.32.010 and RCW 35A.82.020. This fee is collected by the District and remitted to the City.
This is a fee the City of Vancouver charges the District to operate the collection system within city limits, per the Coordination of Services Agreement. This fee is collected by the District and remitted to the City. It is equivalent to the 6% utility tax that City businesses and residents pay on electricity, phone and natural gas utility bills, which in turn goes to the City’s General Fund to help pay for community services such as police, fire and general street maintenance.
District sewer customers within the annexed area will continue to receive affordable and reliable sanitary sewer service from the District and sewer service will continue to be governed by the District’s regulations, policies and standards at this time. District customers within the City of Vancouver’s corporate limits will pay an additional 6% City Interlocal Fee. For more information about annexation by the City, visit: www.cityofvancouver.us/annexation.
This is a fee the City of Ridgefield charges the District to operate the collection system within the incorporated limits of the City. This fee is collected by the District, but is remitted to the City for franchise, non-compete and non-assumption considerations as specified in the “City of Ridgefield and Clark Regional Wastewater District Collection System Transfer and Operating Agreement”.
Residential Customers
AutoPay, direct debit from your checking account, is the most affordable and efficient way of payment. The District also offers other convenient methods of paying your bill, including online, over the phone, or in person. The District currently accepts cash, check, cashier check, money orders, Visa and MasterCard. For a complete description of all the options available to you, please see the Payment Options page.
- More about payment options
We offer several programs to help make sewer costs more affordable, including a discount for qualifying low-income seniors and financing and payment plans to help cover the cost of connecting to the sewer system. We also offer credits for extended vacancies (when a home is empty), which is available to all customers. Contact our customer service representatives for more information — call 360-993-4001 or email customerservice@crwwd.com.
This requires our Customer Service department to access your account. Please contact the District via email or phone with your account number for more specific information.
Yes, residential customers can simply call 360-993-8800 to use our SelfPay system, which will process your Visa and MasterCard debit or credit card or electronic check payment over the phone. Customers may also contact a customer service representative who will gladly process your payment over the phone. We must receive payment by 5 PM on the date noted on the letter. For your convenience, there is a drop box at our office located at 8000 NE 52nd Court where payments may be securely left for processing.
Sewer service is billed based on the availability of service, and the sewer system is still being operated and maintained whether a property is occupied or vacant. Due to public health reasons, and legal and operational considerations, sewer services cannot simply be turned on or off. We offer credits for extended vacancies (when a home is empty). Contact our customer service representatives for more information — call 360-993-4001 or email customerservice@crwwd.com.
The sewer bill is a lien against the property that has received the service, not an individual that occupied the property.
The District is responsible for our sewer system only.
Information on septic systems can be obtained from Clark County Public Health, which is located at 2000 Ft. Vancouver Way in Vancouver, Washington. You may also contact them via telephone at 360-397-8215 or fax them your questions at 360-397-8424.
Business Customers
Effective January 1, 2026, the base rate sewer service for 1 ERU is $48.00 per month. Depending upon your location, additional charges and fees may apply. Monthly billings for commercial accounts are based on the number of ERU’s for type of business establishment proposed use except in Ridgefield, where it is based on potable water consumption. The Commercial Flow Calculation Form and associated tables provide formulas to convert commercial uses into Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs). For each account, the minimum bill is for 1 ERU of service.
For questions on how your bill is calculated, please contact Engineering Customer Service at 360-993-4000.
For questions related to your commercial billing account, please contact Customer Service at 360-750-5876.
You may also visit the Rates & Charges page for more information.
AutoPay, direct debit from your checking account, is the most affordable and efficient way of payment. The District currently accepts cash, check, cashier check, and money orders from Business and Multi-Family property owners. For a complete description of all the options available to you, please see the Payment Options page.
- More about payment options
We must receive payment by 5 PM on the date noted on the letter. For your convenience, there is a drop box located at our office, 8000 NE 52nd Court, where payments may be securely left for processing.
More information is available on the Tenant Improvements page. Generally, we will need the following items to be submitted:
- Commercial Flow Calculation Form
- Floor/Site Plans
- Plumbing Plans or Isometrics
- Plan Review Fee
- View Connection Charges, Permits, and Inspection Fees
Prior to the District giving Final Occupancy, any comments from the review need to be addressed and applicable connection fees (if any) need to be paid.
If you have questions related to this process, please contact Engineering Customer Service at 360-993-4000.
Connection fees are based on ERUs determined from sewage flow values established in Table 2 of District Code section 5.28.020. The fees are calculated using calculation methods for commercial businesses are set forth in the Commercial Flow Calculation Form. Fees are based on the type of business and which treatment facility the waste will flow to. At a minimum, each building must have paid for 1 ERU. You can contact our Engineering Department at 360-993-8812.
Development Services
To find out if sewer service is available to your property, please complete a Sewer Availability Request form or contact our Engineering Department directly via email or phone at 360-993-8812.
The District maintains an archive containing information on the sewer system in our service area. You can contact our Engineering Department at 360-993-8812.
You must obtain a sewer permit:
- Anytime you are modifying an existing sewer line that is outside of the building.
- If you are installing a new sewer line and connecting to sewer.
In addition, if you are changing the use of your building, additional sewer connection fees may be required.
The cost to connect to sewer varies depending on property location and type of use. Connection fees consist of several different parts, some or all of which may be due prior to connection of your property. These include:
- permit fees
- a Local Facilities Charge (LFC)
- or a Latecomer Reimbursement Charge
- View Connection Charges, Permit, and Inspection Fees
These fees do not include any work that would need to be done on your property, such as laying pipe from a house to the public sewer, or abandoning the current septic system. In addition, if the sewer is not immediately adjacent to your property, construction costs within the public right-of-way may be necessary.
To learn more about these fees or to inquire about a specific property, contact our Engineering Department at 360‑993‑8812.
We do not recommend side sewer contractors; we only have lists of contractors who have been placed on small works rosters for certain District projects. For more information, please contact our Engineering Department at 360-993-8812.
Fees vary based on the type and extent of development. If you have questions about fees and deposits for a current or potential development, please contact our Engineering Department at 360-993-8812.
