If you’ve lived in Portland or Multnomah County for a while, you may remember a time when the city offered incentives to homeowners who disconnected their downspouts from the sewer system. The goal was simple: reduce the volume of stormwater entering the combined sewer system to help protect local rivers from overflows during heavy rains. At Armadas Exterior LLC, we help homeowners navigate these unique local environmental regulations across our primary service regions—whether you need gutter assistance in the Portland Metro area (including Damascus) or down at our southern location in Cottage Grove serving the entire Eugene and Springfield region.
But what about today? Do municipal utilities still want you to disconnect your gutter drainage? Are there any discounts or credits available on your water bill? Let’s clear up the confusion for property owners throughout Western Oregon.
While the City of Portland no longer offers the one-time payments for disconnecting your downspouts, the spirit of the program is alive and well. Portland still wants you to disconnect your downspouts—because it helps reduce the risk of sewer overflows during heavy rains.
Instead of a one-time incentive, the City now offers ongoing discounts through the Clean River Rewards program. If you manage your stormwater on-site—meaning your rainwater doesn’t go into the city’s sewer system—you can qualify for a lower monthly stormwater charge on your utility bill.
Yes, cities throughout Multnomah County and the Willamette Valley heavily encourage on-site stormwater management. While old programs offering direct cash payouts have ended, homeowners who properly disconnect their downspouts and route clean rainwater into rain gardens, swales, or drywells can save money through ongoing utility bill discounts like Portland’s Clean River Rewards program.
If you are evaluating your overall drainage system before making these updates, it’s highly recommended to look at the health of your current channels. Review our local guide on How Long Do Gutters Last? to see if your drainage system is durable enough to handle redirected stormwater, or if it is time to upgrade to seamless aluminum gutters.
The City of Portland has a “combined sewer system” in many neighborhoods. This means both rainwater and household wastewater travel through the same pipes. During heavy storms, this system can get overwhelmed and overflow into the Willamette River. Disconnecting downspouts helps reduce that burden by diverting clean rainwater into your yard instead.
The City wants you to do it safely and correctly. Here’s what they recommend:
If you’re unsure how to do it, the City offers a free guide: How to Manage Stormwater with Downspout Disconnection (PDF).
Even though the original cash payment is gone, the Clean River Rewards program can still save you money each month. If you’re managing your rainwater responsibly—through rain gardens, drywells, rain barrels, or simply redirecting water into your yard—you could qualify for a discount on your water bill.
If you live outside Portland city limits but still in Multnomah County, the situation is a little different. The county doesn’t offer any direct discounts for downspout disconnection, but it does require that any new or replaced impervious surfaces over 500 square feet have a drainage plan that manages stormwater on-site. So, while you won’t get a discount, you’re still expected to keep runoff out of the public system.
✅ Yes, Multnomah County and the City of Portland still encourage you to disconnect your downspouts.
✅ No, the old financial incentive program is no longer available—but ongoing discounts exist.
✅ Yes, you should make sure your disconnection is done safely and within guidelines.
If you’re not sure whether your home qualifies or how to make changes, it’s worth reaching out to the City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services or Multnomah County Land Use Planning for more info.
Q: Do Lane County cities like Eugene and Springfield have downspout disconnection programs?
A: Yes. Both Eugene and Springfield manage stormwater programs aimed at reducing runoff into the Willamette River. While rules vary slightly from Multnomah County, homeowners in our southern service area can utilize rain gardens, rain barrels, and bioswales to manage water on-site, protect their local watershed, and reduce neighborhood localized flooding.
Q: Can redirecting my downspouts cause dry rot or foundation issues?
A: It absolutely can if it isn’t done correctly. The City of Portland requires downspout extensions to be placed at least 6 feet away from basements and 2 feet away from crawl spaces. Our teams in both Damascus and Cottage Grove always ensure that the surrounding ground slopes safely away from your foundation to prevent basement flooding or structural wood rot.
Q: What happens if I live in unincorporated Multnomah County?
A: Unincorporated areas do not offer monthly utility discounts because they don’t use the city’s centralized combined sewer lines. However, local county codes mandate that any new or replaced impervious surface over 500 square feet must feature a formal drainage plan to handle all stormwater completely on-site.
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