Groundwater Protection Program
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To keep groundwater safe, the City regulates businesses that use hazardous chemicals or products. Groundwater protection regulations apply to businesses that transport, store and use hazardous chemicals in specific quantities. *See regulated chemicals.
Protection area
Gresham is expanding groundwater protection to include the Cascade well system. Protection area map.
- Some businesses will be subject to new regulations under the City’s expanded groundwater protection program.
- The City will be contacting businesses to offer evaluations and assistance in fall 2022. A phased compliance program will begin in fall 2023.
About the protection program
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Businesses using chemicals or hazardous materials over specified amounts must:
- Attend a free annual pollution prevention training.
- Create and maintain a spill response plan and team.
- Submit an annual report and site plan.
- Place spill kits, signs and other spill control measures on site.
- Use secondary containment for hazardous chemical storage.
City staff provide free training and on-site technical assistance. Find out more.
Best management practices
- Select non-toxic or low-toxicity chemical alternatives.
- Safely contain toxic products.
- Train employees how to safely use, transport, store, and clean-up toxic products.
- Stock supplies for cleaning up spills.
- Safely dispose of toxic products.
- Keep storage and use areas clean.
The summary below lists the types of chemicals and quantities of chemicals regulated under the Groundwater Protection Program.
- Halogenated solvents: 10 gallons or 100 pounds at ≥10% concentration by weight.
- Including industrial cleaners, glues, and degreasers.
- Hazardous substances: 50 gallons or 400 pounds at ≥10% concentration by weight.
- DEQ hazardous wastes: 30 gallons or 220 pounds, at any concentration.
- Petroleum products, except fuels: 50 gallons or 400 pounds at ≥10% concentration by weight, stored in any single container with capacity >50 gallons.
- Petroleum-based liquid fuels (gasoline and diesel): 50 gallons or 400 pounds, stored in any single container with capacity >50 gallons.
City staff inspect businesses periodically to ensure compliance with groundwater protection regulations. The site inspection includes:
- A risk assessment, based on chemicals used and the quantities stored.
- Storage methods and storage location.
- How chemicals are transported on and off site.
- Spill risk level and spill areas.
Training and Technical Assistance
City staff provide free training to businesses located in the protected groundwater well field. Training includes:
- Learning the potential risks to groundwater from hazardous materials.
- Understanding spill response and contacting authorities.
- Locating and reading the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), formerly Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
- Training personnel to handle spill control and response.
- Reviewing a Facility Information Report.
- Reviewing reports.
- Reporting and procedures.
- Proper spill equipment for your site.
- Proper secondary containment systems for your site.
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Contact us
For more information, or to request copies of any of the documents on this page, contact Clay Walker at 503-618-2487 or
Clay.Walker@GreshamOregon.gov.
Report a spill
- Report hazardous spills by calling 911.
- To report spills of non-hazardous materials call the City’s Operations and Maintenance office: 503-618-2626
- After hours, call the City’s Public Works on-call notification number: 503-661-3906.
- Report illegal dumping on private property to Code Compliance at 503-618-2248 or through My Gresham.
- Report illegal dumping on public rights-of-way to Metro's Regional Illegal Dumping Patrol at 503-234-3000.
- Report erosion concerns to 503-618-2474.