Between 1999 and 2005, each public water system in Oregon received a source water assessment report completed by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Oregon Health Authority drinking water programs. The assessment gives the water system and community information on the watershed or recharge area that supplies the well, spring or intake (the “drinking water source area”) and identifies potential risks within the source area.
Starting in 2016, the agencies are completing Updated Source Water Assessments to provide the water systems and communities more detailed information on the watershed or recharge area that supplies their well, spring or intake.
The methods for producing both the original and updated source water assessments in Oregon was developed through a public process that met federal mandatory and state public involvement requirements and consulted with partner state agencies, stakeholders, and public water providers.
Updated Source Water Assessments have been provided to all public water systems that were using surface water as of 2016. For groundwater systems, OHA has prioritized new Community and Non-Transient Non-Community water systems and systems that have added a new water source since their original source water assessment was completed. For groundwater system reports, contact
Paula Rich, OHA, by email or by phone at 541-231-9125.
Download or request Source Water Assessment Reports and updates.
Public water systems and local communities can use the information in the assessments to voluntarily develop place-based plans and implement
drinking water protection strategies.
Oregon's assessment methods and results