Report on Clean Water Services (CWS) Executive Travel and Governance Issues with Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Background and Executive Travel Expenditures

In March 2025, The Oregonian reported on excessive spending by Clean Water Services (CWS) executives on travel to Hawaii. These trips, undertaken by then-CEO Diane Taniguchi-Dennis, were related to meetings for Clean Water Insurance, a self-insurance company formed by CWS as a Hawaii corporation. Self-insurance is a recognized practice for utilities, with Hawaii being one of the few states permitting such corporate structures.

Governance Actions and Investigations

1. In April 2025, the CWS Board, comprising the five-member Board of County Commissioners, mandated an external audit to:
   • Examine travel and meal expenditures
   • Review and restrict executive team spending
   • Revise policies on travel, meals, and refreshments
2. Reportedly, CWS spent approximately $440,000 on local and travel meals over five years and accommodated executives in five-star hotels during Hawaii trips.
3. In June 2025, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission unanimously voted to investigate potential violations of state ethics laws by CWS.

Leadership Changes and Workplace Environment

Following the scrutiny, CEO Diane Taniguchi-Dennis resigned in May 2025, citing a “hostile work environment” allegedly created by County Chair Kathryn Harrington. Although some believe the resignation was board-requested, Commissioner Pam Treece denied this. Taniguchi-Dennis had offered to reimburse CWS for some excessive meal expenses, but this became moot post-resignation. She received a substantial severance package. Concurrently, the Barran-Liebman law firm was engaged to investigate allegations against Chair Harrington, who announced she will not seek re-election and had faced a similar inquiry in 2022.

Recommendations for Improved Oversight and Billing Practices

• Commissioner Pam Treece, a candidate for Chair in 2026, highlighted issues with CWS record-keeping and reimbursement policies.
• She recommended establishing an employee hotline for reporting irregularities, which became operational on June 27, 2025.
• Treece advocates for enhanced oversight and proposes separating billing for stormwater and sewer services (provided by CWS) from drinking water services (provided by Tualatin Valley Water District).
• An income-qualified billing option to assist low-income ratepayers was also endorsed.
• These proposals were discussed during the CWS Board meeting that approved a 3% rate increase for fiscal year 2025-26 (source).

Global Engagement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Commissioner Treece emphasized the importance of CWS staff and board members participating in international water conferences across Asia, Canada, Europe, and the United States. This global exchange facilitates:

• Sharing innovative and sustainable water management practices
• Learning effective solutions to address unique challenges
• Implementing cost-effective strategies benefiting ratepayers

Notably, CWS was selected as one of five U.S. utilities for a federally-funded mission in Laos to assist local government in developing centralized sewer infrastructure, reflecting CWS’s commitment to sustainable practices aligned with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Travel for these engagements is conducted economically, with tourist-class flights and budget accommodations, focusing on maximizing educational and networking benefits rather than luxury.

Lessons learned from global participation include strategies for climate change adaptation (SDG 13), wastewater remediation (SDG 6), earthquake preparedness (SDG 11), and energy reclamation (SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy).

Upcoming CWS Board Work Session

Details

• Date and Time: Friday, July 18, 2025, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Location: Rock Creek Water Resource Recovery Facility, 3235 SE River Road, Hillsboro, and via Zoom (link to be announced)
• Agenda Highlights:
  • CWS plan to rebuild trust
  • Billing updates
  • Facility building updates
  • West Basin Master Plan
  • Board planning
  • Tour of Rock Creek clarifier
• Contact: Sue Page at 503.615.6241 or [email protected]
• Public Participation: Attendance permitted, but no public comments allowed

Call for Applications: Join the CWS Advisory Commission

The Clean Water Services Board of Directors invites community members to apply for four open positions on the Clean Water Services Advisory Commission (CWAC). The 15-member commission advises on policy issues related to water resource management within the Tualatin River Watershed, supporting SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Available Positions and Eligibility

1. District 2 Representative: Must reside in Washington County Commission District 2, including Bethany, Cedar Hills, Cedar Mill, Helvetia, Raleigh Hills, Rock Creek, and parts of Beaverton and Hillsboro.
2. District At-Large Representative: Must reside anywhere within Washington County.
3. Agricultural Representative #2: Must own, manage, or work for an agricultural business or organization operating within CWS boundaries.
4. Builder/Developer Representative #2: Must own, manage, or work for a home builder or developer operating within CWS boundaries.

Applicants are encouraged to contribute their perspectives to enhance sustainable water management and community engagement. For further details and application submission, visit CWS Advisory Commission Application. The application deadline is August 15, 2025.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article discusses Clean Water Services (CWS), which manages stormwater and sewer services, wastewater remediation strategies, and centralized sewer infrastructure assistance.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Issues around excessive and lavish expenditures by CWS executives highlight the need for responsible management of resources and ethical spending.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Investigations into ethics violations, hostile work environment allegations, and calls for stronger oversight and transparency relate to promoting accountable and inclusive institutions.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article mentions learning about climate change response and energy reclamation from global conferences, indicating engagement with climate action.
5. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • The recommendation for an income-qualified option to help low-income ratepayers connects to poverty alleviation efforts.

2. Specific Targets Under Identified SDGs

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution and increasing wastewater treatment.
   • Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management at all levels.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable.
   • Target 12.8: Ensure people have relevant information and awareness for sustainable development.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions.
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.
5. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • Target 1.2: Reduce poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 6 Indicators
   • Proportion of wastewater safely treated (Indicator 6.3.1) – implied by discussion of wastewater remediation and centralized sewer infrastructure.
   • Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality (Indicator 6.3.2) – implied through water quality improvement efforts.
2. SDG 12 Indicators
   • Number of companies publishing sustainability reports (Indicator 12.6.1) – implied by calls for transparency and revised policies.
   • Amount of government spending on sustainable procurement (Indicator 12.7.1) – implied by the need to review and restrict expenditures.
3. SDG 16 Indicators
   • Proportion of the population who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive (Indicator 16.7.2) – implied by the establishment of an employee hotline and advisory commission.
   • Number of verified cases of corruption and action taken (Indicator 16.5.1) – implied by ethics investigations.
4. SDG 13 Indicators
   • Number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies (Indicator 13.1.2) – implied by earthquake preparedness and climate response learning.
5. SDG 1 Indicators
   • Proportion of population living below the national poverty line (Indicator 1.2.1) – indirectly addressed by income-qualified ratepayer options.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cedarmillnews.com