Potential Contaminants and Risks

Drinking water sources, whether from a watershed or aquifer recharge area, are subject to a variety of potential point and nonpoint sources of pollution from natural and human sources. Identifying potential pollutants provides local awareness and assists the community in developing risk reduction measures.

• Fact Sheet: Oregon's Source Water Assessment Methodology - Risk levels for potential contaminant sources 
  
• DEQ's Source Water Assessment web page 
  See sections on inventory of potential contaminant sources, risk for potential contaminants and enhancing your Source Water Assessment.
• Typical Contaminants from Land Uses/Sources

Potential impacts from land uses and activities

Table notes

1. PCS Code: Internal DEQ tracking code for potential contaminant source type.
2. Groundwater risk and Surface water risk: An estimate of the potential risk a facility or land use poses to groundwater or surface water drinking water sources based on its activities and the substances it uses, stores, or handles. These risk ratings were developed by the advisory committee that created Oregon's Source Water Assessment Plan using conservative, worst-case assumptions, including the absence of pollution prevention or good management practices.
3. Potential water quality impacts may not include all possible contaminants or concerns. Emerging contaminants and differences in facility operations or land use may result in additional impacts that vary by site.