Where is Newberg Public Works Located?
We are located at 500 W Third – Behind Reid Rental.
What are the hours of operation?
Monday thru Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. The RV dump is available from 8 am to 4 pm.
Who do you "Call Before You Dig?"
If you plan to dig, contact the
Oregon Utility Notification Center (OUNC) toll free at (800) 332-2344. This is an invaluable free service to prevent accidents related to buried utility lines and facilities. The OUNC notifies member utilities operating in the proposed excavation area to locate and mark their underground facilities.
How do I report a Street Light that is out/flickering?
Streetlights provide a valuable service to the community by supplying light for both motorists and pedestrians. The benefits of this important resource are best achieved when every streetlight is operating properly. PGE, however, is unable to manually check each streetlight and thus it depends on the assistance of customers to help identify streetlights in need of repair.
If you notice a streetlight outage, please contact PGE at:
1. 1-800-544-1795 (press "3"); or
2.
LightOut@pgn.com
When reporting a streetlight outage, it is important to provide the following information:
1. Address;
2. Nearest cross street;
3. Pole number (on pole); and
4. Map number (on pole).
Thanks to the assistance of citizens, PGE will be able to find and repair streetlights in a timely manner, and in turn, making our community safer and brighter.
West Nile Virus
Avian/Bird Flu
Set up recycling and garbage service
Contact Newberg Garbage and Recycling at 503-538-1388
Dead Animal Pick-up
City of Newberg crews will pick up dead animals within the City limits, within 24 hours, when they are found on City, County and State roads or when they are in a City right-of-way or on City property. Most dead animal calls received on Saturday or Sunday will be picked up when the regular shift begins on Monday. However, if the animal poses a traffic hazard, City crews will remove and dispose of the animal from the area.
When does my Street get swept by the Sweeper?
SANITARY SEWER
Sewage backups onto private property can result when an interruption of the wastewater conveyance system occurs. Such overflows have the potential of creating a health hazard and causing significant damage to property and contents.
Upon notice of an overflow situation, the City of Newberg will immediately respond to the scene, evaluate the situation and take the necessary steps to eliminate the cause of the sewage overflow in the public wastewater collection facility.
The City is responsible for sewage backups in the public line as a result of negligence of the City or its employees. Wastewater customers are responsible for backups in their private sewer line. However, relief funding is available to property owners meeting eligibility requirements.
Wastewater maintenance crews inspect and TV all new sewer lines after they are constructed. The crews are also responsible for maintenance and repair of the sewer lines and manholes. A major component of maintenance of the sewer lines is cleaning. The goal of the Wastewater Maintenance crew is to clean each sewer line at least once every five years. The miles of mainline sewer have increased 27% from 1991 through 1998.
What should I do if sewer backs up on or at my property?
If there is significant volume or continuous flow of sewage, contact the City of Newberg’s Maintenance Department at (503) 537-1234 (regular business hours), or (503) 538-8321 (evenings, holidays or weekends). Typically, if only a small volume of flow occurs or the source is from an upper level of the structure the problem is probably a private plumbing issue. You should contact a licensed plumbing professional for assistance.
Emergency Response By the City
Upon notification of sewerage backup, the City of Newberg will take the following actions:
Immediately respond to the scene and investigate the situation.
Provide information to the affected customer on the responsibility for removal of the back cause.
When will the City respond to my call?
City personnel are on call 24 hours a day. They will respond as soon as possible to the scene and evaluate the situation. Appropriate steps will be taken to mitigate the sewage blockage/overflow of the Public Wastewater System. The property owner will be notified if the cause of the blockage or overflow is located on a private line.
What is a private sewer lateral?
A private sewer lateral is the section of underground pipe that connects the sewage system in a house or building (the wastewater plumbing) to the City owned and maintained sanitary sewer collection system (sewer system) in streets or easements. As the name implies, the private sewer lateral is a pipe that is owned and maintained by the private property owner. It is outside the City's right-of-way. The private sewer lateral is the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain and repair, just as the roof on a house is the homeowner's responsibility to maintain and repair.
What Causes Sewage Backups?
Interruption of the wastewater conveyance system or overflow, can be caused by many things, including the following:
- Damage to public sanitary sewer lines by private parties or their contactors.
- Damage to a public sanitary sewer line by public entities or their contactors.
- Power or mechanical failures at public sewage ‘lift stations’.
- Blockages of a public sanitary sewer line due to debris (rocks, sticks, lumber, toys, roots, etc).
- Settlement or movement of earth below a public sanitary sewer line that causes the line to collapse or separate.
- Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) caused by significant rainfall events resulting in flows greater than the capacity of the public sanitary sewer line.
- Damage to the privately owned segment of the wastewater conveyance system by any of the above causes.
What Can I Do?
Install a backwater valve on the private building sewer to prevent the backflow of sewage from the public line. Maintain and inspect the backwater valve as recommended by manufacturer.
Maintain insurance coverage to cover damage caused by sewage backflow incidents.
Is my health or my family’s health at risk?
Contact with untreated sewage always carries a potential health risk. Family members and pets should be evacuated from any contaminated buildings as soon as possible.
WATER
How can I tell if I have any water leaks?
Undetected leaks can be costly. If you think you may have a water leak, your water meter is your best detective to help you find it:
- Turn of all faucets and water-using appliances, such as the dish and clothes washers.
- Locate your water meter and lift the cover for the meter dial.
- Note the position of the sweep hand, or use a marker on the lens cover.
- Wait 20-30 minutes and check the sweep hand location again. If the sweep hand has moved, you probably have a leak somewhere in your system.
- Most meters have a red "telltale" indicator. If you see it moving when all water is off, you probably have a leak.
Looking For Leaks
- Your toilet may have a silent leak. Drop a little food coloring into the tank. Wait about 10 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the bowl, you have a leak. Take a look at Even You Can Fix a Leaky Toilet (Prepared by TVWD) at http://www.tvwd.org/pdf/brochures/leaky_toilet_web.pdf,
- Check for moist spots around and under the house plumbing and around outdoor plumbing.
- Replace worn washers in faucets and showerheads. A little drip wastes many gallons each day. Take a look at Even You Can Fix a Leaky Faucet (Prepared by TVWD) .
- Drips not only drive you nuts, but will never go away unless you fix it. Even a small drip can waste as much as 170 gallons of water each day, or 5,000 gallons per month.
If you suspect a leak between your water main and your house, call Public Works Maintenance at 503-537-1234.
Locating Your Water Meter
Your water meter should be located in front of your house, inside a concrete or plastic meter box that is set flush to the ground.
Look for the meter behind the sidewalk at a side lot line near the street. If your home is on a corner lot, it could be either on the front or side street.
Sometimes, meter boxes are not easily visible due to landscaping and other obstructions.
If you need help finding it, call Public Works Maintenance at 503-537-1234.
Reading Your Water Meter
Reading your meter is like reading the odometer of a car:
- Read the numbers from left to right that appear under the words "Cubic Feet."
- The first digit on the right represents one cubic foot. The second from the right represents 10 cubic feet. The third from the right (usually a different color) represents 100 cubic feet, or one "CCF."
- One revolution of the meter sweep-hand (the arm that goes around in a circle) equals one cubic foot or 7.48 gallons.
Note: billing is in 100 Cubic Feet, or 1 CCF.
1 CCF = 748 gallons.
Shutting Off Your Water
If a water pipe broke in your home, could you find the shut off valve?
Know where it’s located before you have an emergency. There should be a valve near the house. Look in the following places:
- In the crawl space or basement, where the water line enters the home.
- In the garage where the water line enters the wall or ceiling, near the water heater or laundry hookup.
- Outside near the foundation, often protected by a concrete ring or clay pipe.
- Your water meter is located in a concrete or plastic box in the ground, generally in front of your house and near the side property line. It’s important to keep the box free of plants and roots that can obstruct or hide the meter or damage the service line.
You might want to have a shutoff valve installed if you can’t locate one. If you have an emergency and need help shutting off your water at the meter or locating your water meter, please call PWM at (503) 537-1234.
Moving/Starting Up/Disconnecting Water Service?
Contact the Finance Dept at 503-538-9425.
Other Billing Questions?
Contact the Finance Dept at 503-538-9425.
TRANSPORTATION
Who do I contact for Street Issues?
Some streets within Newberg are not maintained by the City of Newberg. Some streets are maintained by Yamhill County and some are maintained by ODOT. A street map is available at
www.newbergoregon.gov.
City of Newberg: 503-537-1234
Yamhill County: 503-434-7515
ODOT: Phone: (888) 275-6368
How do I report a pothole?
Depending on who maintains the street (see
www.newbergoregon.gov) Contact City of Newberg Public Works at 503-537-1234, Yamhill County at 503-434-7515, or ODOT at 800-776-7718.
Why aren't potholes patched immediately?
The staff attempts to patch all potholes within 48 hours of notification. To report a pothole, call the Maintenance Department at (503) 537-1234.
How do you choose which roads to pave?
Public Works will look for certain conditions on the road surface before deciding what to do and when to do it. Loss of aggregate, certain types of cracking and other signs of stress are good indicators of what’s going on beneath the pavement, as well as the surface condition. We use sophisticated computer software that considers each road’s condition, prior maintenance history, and traffic loads to help us evaluate the most cost-effective treatment.
Additional considerations are available funding and other projects in the area that might impact the road.
Street Overlays
Street overlays are necessary to rehabilitate the street surface and are generally used on arterial and collector streets to extend the design life an additional 12 - 15 years. Street projects are prioritized by the Public Works Department and coordinated with local utility companies and the City of Newberg.
How are streets selected for resurfacing?
Streets are inspected by staff and then prioritized based on need and available funds. The proposed streets are sent to the Mayor and City Council for review during the annual budget process. If approved, the resurfacing process takes place during the next fiscal year.
Why do the road crews always have to do their work during the busiest part of the day?
Crews often schedule their work so that they miss the morning rush hour commute and the evening commute home, and attempt to do their work between those times. However, some utilities such as water, telephone or gas services must be repaired as soon as possible to provide immediate services to the public. Therefore, those unplanned repairs take place immediately.
Why don't they overlay the streets at night?
Nighttime resurfacing is very dangerous for the work crews. The warm weather during the day allows the paving material to adhere well to the old surface. The colder temperatures at night are not good for paving overlay operations. Also, paving and construction is very noisy. Most of the areas within the City are urban and close to neighborhoods which by City code prohibits noise from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
My neighborhood street is in worse shape than my neighbor’s street, but you paved his and didn’t do anything to mine! Why?
We spend a large portion of our budget on preventive maintenance. This makes good economic sense because a dollar spent on road maintenance today can save $5 on future maintenance costs. Your street may already be beyond the "quick fix" stage and will require more extensive (and expensive) repairs. We’ll get to it, but it may be another year or so. We do keep a "wish list" though, so don’t be shy - give us a call or e-mail us! There may also be other utility repairs planned in the near future that would affect when the road will be paved.
Do I need a permit to work in the right-of-way?
Yes. Depending on what you want to do, you will probably need to obtain a Right of Way Permit or a Utility Permit. Examples of work that typically require a permit are adding a driveway, repairing a water line or any other utility connections or repair. You may also need a permit if you are doing work that blocks the road or limits access to adjacent properties. Best advice? Check with us before you start work. Questions? Call (503) 537-1240.
Sidewalk Repairs
Sidewalk repairs are completed by Street Maintenance employees on City-owned sidewalks to prevent tripping hazards. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance and repairs of adjacent sidewalks and curbs. A permit is required. There are very few sidewalks that are owned by the City. The vast majority are owned and maintained by the adjacent property owners. For permit application information, contact City of Newberg at (503) 537-1240.
Sidewalk Ramp Installations
The sidewalk ramp installations are done in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
Overgrown Yards/Fields
You may report yards/field that are overgrown to the Newberg Fire Department. The site will be inspected for the possibility of fire hazard, however, it is not deemed a fire hazard, it is up to the property owner.
Traffic Lights
The maintenance of traffic lights on the State Highways are the responsibility of Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT) which can be reached at 503-378-2645. The City of Newberg has the capability to manipulate the lights in an emergency before ODOT arrives.
Traffic Signs
Signs are installed and maintained by the City, County, and State, depending on their location. If they are inside the City of Newberg, contact the Street Maintenance Division for repairs and replacements of street signs.
STORM DRAINS
How can I tell if my house is hooked up to the storm drain?
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.
I think there is a break in one of the drainage systems in my yard. Can you check it out?
Yes, we may be able to investigate. However, it will be the property owner's responsibility to repair the drainage system.
Why can't I wash out my painting equipment in the storm drain? It's water-based paint and I've been doing it for years.
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. Water based paint adds to the amount of suspended solids in the water, which is harmful to aquatic plants and animals.
Can the City do anything about all the water in my backyard?
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.
Where does all this water go?
After flowing through creeks, etc. this water ends up in the Willamette River, which flows into the Columbia River and then out to the Pacific Ocean. There are new manhole covers labeling the designation of storm water with the cover stating “DUMP NO WASTE, DRAINS TO STREAM” and thermaplastic curb markings near drain grates stating the same.
What is this manhole for in my back yard?
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.
Where does my Storm Maintenance Fee go?
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 situation 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.
CATCH BASINS
The catch basin in my parking lot is full of pine needles. Can you unplug it?
No, more than likely the catch basins located in a parking lot are on private property and the City does not clean or maintain private storm drainage systems.
Who is responsible for cleaning the catch basins in the street in front of my home/office?
The City cleans about two-thirds of the catch basins annually on a set schedule. If a catch basin is full or is not draining after a rain event it may have been covered with leaves or road debris that needs to be removed from the grate. If, as a customer, you can rake the material off the catch basin into the street it would be greatly appreciated. If the catch basin is not blocked and is not draining, please call the Storm Section and we will have a crew respond as soon as possible.
Why does water sometimes come out of the catch basin when it rains?
It could be what we call a "bubbler" or it may be plugged. Bubblers are designed to convey water under an intersection where there is no storm lines.
Somebody dumped oil in the catch basin. What can you do about it?
Please call us immediately. We have a Municipal Code Services officer who will deal with the violation. The maintenance section will need to investigate the downstream effects and clean up if the responsible party is not willing to deal with the problem immediately.
Animals/Items fall into the drain/catch basin. Can you cover the catch basins so they can't fall in?
No, we can't cover catch basins to protect animals/items from falling in. Telephone us and we will attempt to retrieve them.
Things to remember...
- Keep leaves and grass clippings out of gutters, storm drains, ditches, ponds and creeks.
- Remove leaves from catch inlets to avoid local flooding.
- Report flooding to Storm Division at (503) 537-1234.
- Do not dispose of yard waste/debris into water quality facilities, detention ponds, swales (low lying or depressed wet stretches of land), or anything conveying water.
