Graphic with the words "Q & A? no question off limits"

Where is Newberg Public Works Located?  Located at 500 W Third 

What are the hours of operation?
Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.  Summer hours: (Memorial Day - Labor Day)  Monday thru Thursday, 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

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. 

How do I report a Street Light that is out/flickering?

Streetlights are part of a safe community.  PGE, however, depends on the assistance of customers to help identify streetlights in need of repair.    Please report streetlight outages to PGE at:  1-800-544-1795 (press "3"); or  click theStreet Light Outage to fill out an online form.
 

Set up recycling/garbage service or find the local dump location:  visit  WasteManagement NW  1-800-808-5901 

Dead Animal Pick-up City of Newberg crews will pick up dead animals within the City limits not on private land call 503-538-8321

When does my Street get swept by the Sweeper? http://www.newbergoregon.gov/maintenance/street-sweeping

Report issues 24  hours a day visit SEE CLICK FIX webpage or download the app on a smart device

Wastewater  Sewer 

Sewage backups onto private property may happen when an interruption of the wastewater lines occur. 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 lines.  The City is responsible for sewage backups in the public line as a result of negligence of the City.   Customers are responsible for backups in their private sewer line. However, relief funding is available to property owners meeting eligibility requirements.

What should I do if sewer backs up on or at my property?  If there is significant volume or continuous flow of sewage, call 503) 538-8321.   If  there is a small volume of flow or the source is from an upper level of the structure the issue is internal: contact a licensed plumbing professional. Public lines typically have large volume and pressure.

City Response  Upon notification 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. 

What is a private sewer lateral? A private sewer lateral is the section of underground pipe that connects the sewage system in a private building to the City owned and maintained sewer system under the streets or easements. As the name implies, the private sewer lateral is a pipe that is owned and maintained by the private property owner. 

What Causes Sewage Backups?  It can be caused by many things, including the following:

  • Damage to public sanitary sewer lines by private parties or contactors.
  • Damage to a public sanitary sewer line by public entities or contactors.
  • Power or mechanical failures at City sewage ‘lift stations’.
  • Blockages of a public sewer line due to debris (rocks, sticks, lumber, toys, roots, babywipes, garbage, grease).
  • Settlement or movement of earth below a sewer line. 
  • Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) caused by major rainfall that overwhelmes the system with rain water runoff.
  • Damage to the privately owned segment of the wastewater conveyance system by any of the above causes.

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 method of checking:

  • 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.
  • Check for moist spots around and under the house plumbing 
  • Replace worn washers in faucets and shower heads.  
  • Drips -  Even a small drip can waste as much as 170 gallons of water each day, or 5,000 gallons per month.

Locating Your Water Meter and is It Accessible?

  • 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. near the sidewalk and the street. If you are on a corner lot, it could be either on the front or side street.
  • Water meters need to be clear of landscaping, cars, basketball hoops decorative rocks or any other item. 
  • Newberg Municipal Code, Section 13.15.100(D) states, “ It shall be unlawful for any person in any way to damage, injure or obstruct any water line or any part of the municipal water system, including the water meter, of the City.” 
  • 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:

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

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 503 537-1234.

Moving/Starting Up/Disconnecting Water Service? Billing questions  Contact City Hall Billing at 503-537-1205.

TRANSPORTATION      Who do I contact for Street Issues? Pothole / obstruction / parking  issue/ flooding

Some streets within City limits are not city owned. Some streets are County and some are ODOT.
Report any issue by clicking SEE CLICK FIX or download the app on your smart device. If the road is not a City road we will forward the information to the County or State. 

City of Newberg: 503-537-1234       Yamhill County: 503-434-7515      ODOT: Phone: (888) 275-6368

How do you choose which roads to pave?

Public Works uses industry standards to evaluate conditions on the road surface before deciding what to do and when. Loss of aggregate, certain types of cracking and other signs of stress are indicators of conditions beneath the pavement surface.  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.  Roads that require extensive work are part of the TUF and Pavement Maintenance 5 year plan.
Street overlays are also part of the 5 year Pavement plan. 

How are streets selected? 

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.

Do I need a permit to work in the right-of-way (Public owned space)?

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 adding a driveway, repairing a water line or any other utility connections or repair that involves the sidewalk, easement, road or connecting to the city owned systems.  You may also need a permit if you are doing work that blocks the road or limits access.  Check with us before you start work. Questions? Call (503) 537-1240.

Sidewalk Repairs: please visit the Sidewalk page for information and resources to help you maintain your sidewalk.

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 until 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 us by visiting  See Click Fix webpage

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. 

I think there is a break in one of the drainage systems in my yard. Can you check it out?  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.

Storm Drains eventually lead to our rivers.  They are never a method of disposing of any solution.   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. 

Can the City do anything about all the water in my backyard?  No, however, the Storm Drainage Maintenance program provides customer assistance and will suggest solutions  that could help. Note: The City is not responsible for private property issues, but will assist you if an adjacent property is 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 labels on some of stormdrains stating “DUMP NO WASTE, DRAINS TO STREAM” and thermoplastic curb markings .  

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  (looks like a landscape swale) The catch basin in my parking lot is full of pine needles. Can you unplug it?  No. Most  catch basins are located 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 has washed in off the streets.  We hope everyone can help keep these areas cleared when they see a build up however use the SEE CLICK FIX app or webpage to report anytime there is a potential rain overflow onto the street.

Somebody dumped oil/paint or blew  yard debris in the catch basin. What can you do about it? 

CALL US OR TAKE A PHOTO AND REPORT IT ON SEE CLICK FIX right away.   The maintenance crews will mitigate downstream impacts and clean up and code enforcemetn will track down the he responsible party. 

Remember...

  • Keep leaves and grass clippings do not belong in street gutters, storm drains, ditches, ponds and creeks.
  • Remove leaves from catch inlets to avoid local flooding.
  • Report flooding SEE CLICK FIX  or 503-538-8321
  • Do not blow, rake or dispose of yard waste/debris into detention ponds, swales (low lying or depressed wet stretches of land), or anything conveying rainwater.