Five Portland Water Bureau employees are suing the city and seeking nearly $1 million in damages alleging they faced discrimination and retaliation after reporting safety issues, wasteful practices, sexual harassment and “systemic corruption.”

The suit, which also names two bureau managers, claims agency leaders allowed a “toxic environment” that made it uncomfortable for employees and put their safety – and that of the public – at risk.

Jaymee Cuti, a water bureau spokeswoman, declined to comment Tuesday.

It is unclear whether any of five plaintiffs continue to work for the bureau.

The 15-page suit makes numerous allegations, including that a manager pushed “rookie employees with no heavy equipment experience to operate excavators and other large machines.” When employees raised safety concerns, the suit alleges, a manager belittled their concerns or teased them “mercilessly.”

The suit also alleges that one of managers called one of the plaintiffs “my dirty girl,” and “made crude, sexist jokes about women and seemed to take delight in referring to his female technicians as his ‘kids’ and ‘problem children.’”

The employees allege that when they reported problems, they were either terminated, harassed, refused promotions or ignored.

The suit was filed on Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court. The plaintiffs are represented by Fargey Law of Portland. The law firm did not immediately return a call for comment.