RV Disposal Facility Available in Forest Grove

"In 14 years of RV'ing, this is the best dump station I've seen," said one of the first users of the brand new recreational vehicle (RV) disposal station at the Forest Grove Elks Lodge. Years of wishing, led by Forest Grove City Councilor Tom Johnston, Elks Lodge #2440, and the Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce, came true with support from the City of Forest Grove and Clean Water Services. At the June 18 ribbon cutting, Councilor Johnston said, “Forest Grove’s residents and visitors have needed this for years as Pacific University and tourism have grown, and they’ve really been using it.”

Fellow Elks hung a toilet seat at the station with a “thank you” note to Johnston. He said, “We’ve got a donation box so those who use it can help keep the station in good repair.” Another veteran RV'er at the opening ceremony said, "They got it right with the design and this RV disposal station will be easy to keep neat and clean."

Clean Water Services, the regional sewer and stormwater utility for urban Washington County, offers free RV disposal at two of its four wastewater treatment facilities, one in Tigard and one in Hillsboro, but due to safety concerns and a lack of space was unable to provide that service at its Forest Grove facility at 1345 Fern Hill Road. The Elks Lodge welcomed construction of the disposal station in its parking lot at 2810 Pacific Avenue when Clean Water Services agreed to build the station and the City of Forest Grove waived its permitting fees.

Bill Gaffi, general manager of Clean Water Services, said, "This was a rewarding partnership to deliver another service to Forest Grove as we complete $21.4 million of improvements to the Forest Grove wastewater treatment facility." The facility upgrades include a new influent pump station, head works and aeration basin to meet the needs of the growing community and economy through 2030 using energy efficient, sustainable technologies. Constructed in 1946, the facility serves the southern portion of the City of Forest Grove, and all of Gaston and Cornelius, cleaning five million gallons of wastewater per day.

Clean Water Services is a water resource management utility for more than 527,000 people in urban Washington County and small portions of Multnomah County, Clackamas County, Lake Oswego, and Portland. Clean Water Services operates four wastewater treatment facilities, constructs and maintains flood management and water quality projects, and manages flow in the Tualatin River to improve water quality and protect fish habitat. Although Clean Water Services maintains a close working relationship with Washington County government, it is a separately managed and financed public utility.