Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission
Eugene-Springfield’s partners in wastewater management
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We're Harvesting at the Biocycle Farm!
As a fast-growing crop, poplar trees offer a sustainable way to use our processed biosolids
This summer, the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) has contracted with Lane Forest Products for all poplar harvests at its Biocycle Farm, located of Highway 99 between Eugene and Junction City. The first area to be harvested in this contract is Management Unit 1 – South, which covers roughly 77 acres, including nearly 15,000 10-year-old trees.
- RWork will primarily take place M-F between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- RAs an agricultural crop, trees must be harvested every 12 years
- RMWMC's poplar products are sold at Bring Recycling in Glenwood
Our Sustainability Efforts
Recycled Water
Poplar Harvest
Renewable Natural Gas
Featured Videos
Learn more about the MWMC through our selection of educational videos
Does Construction Make the Treatment Plant Stinky?
🏗️ Does it get stinkier out at the regional wastewater treatment facility when there is major construction? Our civil engineer Nick Thrasher can answer that!
#WeCleanWater #WastewaterTreatment #AerationSystem #MWMC #EugeneOregon
Poplar Harvesting Has Begun!
Poplar harvest season is here! 🌳
We are currently harvesting poplars at the Biocycle Farm in Management Unit 1, South. The MWMC is carefully managing access to the site and taking deliberate steps to minimize noise, traffic, and other impacts on neighbors and nearby farm operations.
This summer, work will include tree removal, slash processing, stump grinding, and preparing the land for a new round of planting.
Questions about the poplar harvest, the Biocycle Farm, or the MWMC? Contact our team at mwmcpartners@springfield-or.gov.
#WeCleanWater #Sustainability #BiocycleFarm #EugeneOregon #LaneCounty
We Turn Waste Into Fertilizer!
What happens to wastewater solids after treatment? 👀
They don’t go to waste!
♻️ Stabilized in lagoons using natural decomposition processes
💧 Mechanically de-watered and air dried
🌱 Recovered as nutrient-rich fertilizer and applied to our 400-acre poplar tree farm
#BioSolids #WastewaterTreatment #MWMC #WeCleanWater #ResourceRecovery
We're Upgrading Our Aeration System!
What's happening at the MWMC regional wastewater treatment plant?
We're upgrading the plant's aeration system to help keep our wastewater infrastructure operating safely and efficiently for the future.
In this video, Senior Civil Engineer Mark Van Eeckhout explains why this project matters and how investments in wastewater treatment help protect public health, downstream drinking water sources, and habitat for aquatic wildlife.
The MWMC is a regional partnership between the City of Springfield, City of Eugene, and Lane County.
#Wastewater #Infrastructure #Engineering #PublicWorks #EnvironmentalProtection #WastewaterTreatment
Make Way for Ducklings...
Make way for ducklings… and clean water! 🦆💧
This Earth Day, we’re celebrating the role wastewater treatment plays in keeping our environment safe for everyone, including this adorable family we spotted at the plant.
From tiny ducklings to entire ecosystems, clean water makes a difference. Our team works every day to return clean water to the environment and support healthy habitats where wildlife can thrive.
Protecting the planet starts with protecting our water, and sometimes it comes with a very cute reminder. 🌎
#EarthDay2026 #MWMC #WeCleanWater #HappyEarthDay #Ducklings
Trivia: Careers in Wastewater
Cleaning water takes a team! From operators to lab techs to financial analysts, our staff come from all kinds of backgrounds to ensure the wastewater treatment process is successfully running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
#wastewater #wastewatertreatment #mwmc #wecleanwater #behindthescenes #infrastructure
FAQs
Find answers to common questions about our services, infrastructure, and community impact:
Can I go on a tour of the treatment facility?
The MWMC is happy to organize tours of the Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility to schools and community groups of 10 or more. To learn more, visit our Tours page or reach out to our team at mwmcpartners@springfield-or.gov.
Why are there three wastewater fees on my bill?
Wastewater fees include a base fee from the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) of $17.71 per month.
Regional flow-based fees support the operation and maintenance of the MWMC regional wastewater treatment plant, which cleans between 20 million and 200 million gallons of wastewater every day.
Local (Eugene or Springfield) flow-based fees support the systems and infrastructure that collect wastewater from homes and businesses and transport it to the regional wastewater treatment plant.
How is my bill calculated?
The flow-based fee on your wastewater bill is calculated on units (748 gallons) of water consumed. To eliminate outdoor water usage from your wastewater bill, flow-based fees are determined from water meter readings from December through April. From May through November, bills are based on the average of the winter usage or actual usage, whichever is less. For accounts with fewer than three months of wastewater usage, your average is based on seven (7) units or actual usage, whichever is less.
Why is my wastewater bill higher than my water bill?
The cost of sending clean water to a customer is considerably less than cleaning and purifying water discharged into the sanitary sewer system so that it can be returned to the Willamette River. For more information, see our Rates page.
Who do I contact if I have questions about my wastewater bill?
For Eugene residents, call the City of Eugene at 541-682-4900
For Springfield residents, call the City of Springfield at 541-726-3696
EWEB and SUB serve as the wastewater billing agents for the City of Eugene, City of Springfield, and the MWMC. While wastewater fees are delivered through your EWEB or SUB billing system, they are not EWEB or SUB fees.
What do rates fund?
- Operating and maintaining wastewater pipes, pump stations, and the regional wastewater treatment plant
- Making capital improvements to ensure system capacity, resiliency, efficiency, and longevity
- Monitoring compliance through our Industrial Pretreatment program
- Delivering pollution prevention education and community outreach
Every year, the MWMC:
- Treats 10 to 14 billion gallons of wastewater
- Processes 6,000 dry tons of biosolids
- Conducts more than 27,000 water quality tests
To learn more, visit the Annual Reports page to get a detailed look at the work the MWMC completes each year.
How can I tell if I have a water leak?
There are several ways to check your plumbing for a leak. The most common leak we see is a silent toilet leak. To check for one, put a few drops of food coloring into the tank of the toilet and wait several minutes. If the color seeps into the bowl, you have a leak.
A good way to check if you have a leak somewhere in your system is to do an overnight meter read. You just write down the reading on your meter before you go to bed for the night (make sure no water gets used overnight) Then read the meter again in the morning before you use any water. If the numbers change, you have a leak somewhere. You can also do this when you are going to be out of the house for the day.
Most of the meters in use today have a flow detector on them. This is a small red triangle inside a bubble located under the numbers on the meter. When you are using water, the triangle spins. If you are not running anything that uses water and the triangle is spinning, you probably have a leak.
Who do I contact to report odors around the treatment facility?
Please call the City of Eugene, Wastewater Division, at 541-682-8600.
How do I contact the MWMC Board of Commissioners?
You are welcome to attend monthly MWMC Board meetings. There is an opportunity for public comment. In addition, you may address a letter to the Board which will be entered into public record. Letters can be emailed to mwmcpartners@springfield-or.gov or mailed to: Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, OR 97477. Visit the Board of Commissioners page to see who is currently serving on the MWMC Board.
Can I bring wastewater from my RV or boat to the treatment plant?
Yes! The MWMC has a free RV and boat dump station located near the east entrance of the Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility on River Avenue. It is open 24/7. Learn about our dump station etiquette and where to find it on the RV and Boat Dump Station page.
