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Background

Oregon's drinking water source protection program assists public water systems and communities with protecting their sources of drinking water (streams, lakes and aquifers) from contamination. Drinking water protection is implemented in Oregon through a partnership of between DEQ and the Oregon Health Authority. The program addresses over 2,500 public water systems in Oregon. DEQ's role is to protect source water, which means protecting the sources of water, such as the rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater that provide water to public drinking water supplies and private wells.
 
Assuring safe drinking water depends on public water suppliers implementing multiple successful practices:
  • Protect the sources of drinking water. source
  • Practice effective water treatment
  • Conduct Monitor regularly monitoring for contaminants to assure safety
  • Protect the distribution system piping and finished water storage from recontamination
  • Practice competent water system operation, maintenance, and construction
These practices are collectively called “multiple barrier public health protection". Source water protection is an important first step because starting with the best possible quality source water helps assure that water treatment can be effective at all times.
 
Source water is protected through effective state public health programs, environmental protection, land use policies, pro-active land stewardship, and by implementation of local drinking water protection efforts by communities and public water suppliers. The susceptibility of the public drinking water system source depends on both the natural conditions in the watershed as well as the human activities in the watershed. DEQ and OHA encourage community-based protection and preventive management.

Visit our Drinking Water Program Contacts page.

DEQ's current activities

DEQ helps protect the quality of Oregon's drinking water by implementing the Clean Water Act to safeguard the rivers, streams, and aquifers that supply communities. While the Oregon Health Authority ensures drinking water meets Safe Drinking Water Act standards, DEQ focuses on protecting the sources themselves. Our annual report to EPA highlights this work and our coordination with partners to improve water quality for public and environmental health.

Assessments

DEQ and OHA have completed Source Water Assessments that provide each public water system with data, maps, and technical information to help reduce pollution in their source waters. 

Resources  

Guides

Resource guides for both surface water and groundwater public water systems have been developed to provide more technical assistance, funding information, and resources to public water systems in Oregon.

Both documents will continue to be updated and improved as the program moves forward. Comments and suggested changes for improving either document can be sent to Drinkingwater.protection@deq.oregon.gov.   

Additional information

Community questions

Most drinking water, particularly in urban areas, is obtained through public water systems that serve multiple homes or entire communities. These can be groundwater wells or surface water intakes (pipes drawing from streams and rivers). If a well or intake serves more than three homes or connections, it is regulated as a public water system in Oregon.

If you get a monthly water bill, the name and telephone number of your water system operator should be on the bill. Call this number for more information on the source of your drinking water. You can also access information on the water system using the Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services online database. (See “Drinking Water Data Online" and use the “Water System Search" feature to find your water system.)

If you're a renter and don't receive a water bill, call your landlord for the water system name. Other potential sources of information about your water include DEQ's interactive map viewer, your local county health department, your local Oregon Water Resources Department watermaster district office at 503-378-8455, or the OHA Drinking Water Program at 971-673-0405.

In rural areas, household drinking water commonly comes from private wells (or less commonly, through surface water intakes). If your water comes from a household well or intake (serving one to three households), it is considered a "private" or "domestic" water supply" in Oregon. If you get your water from a private well or intake, you're responsible for its maintenance, testing and operation. DEQ provides some limited information for private well owners and more is available from Oregon Health Authority's Domestic Well Safety Program.


Public water systems by law must sample and test for contamination on a regular basis and report the results to consumers. You can get the most recent "Consumer Confidence Report" for your water system from the water provider. Find the contact person for your water system and access the most recent test results on OHA's Drinking Water Services website. Click on "Data Online" and use the "Water System Search" to access system information.

Additional resources for understanding public water system regulations and treatment are on OHA's Drinking Water Services website. The “For Consumers" section has information on the possible health effects of drinking water with various chemicals, home treatment systems and consumer confidence reports.

For additional help in understanding public water system regulations and treatment, call OHA's Drinking Water Program at 971-673-0405.

Source Water Assessments are reports that provide data, maps, and technical information about the source of drinking water to each public water system. 

Maps of the groundwater and surface water drinking water source areas and potential contaminant sources identified within those drinking water source areas are also available in several other formats including an online interactive mapping tool and GIS data layers.​


Contact

For more information, email Drinkingwater.Protection@deq.oregon.gov