Water quality data for public water systems in Oregon can be found in a number of places. Oregon Health Authority's Drinking Water Data Online is available to access regulatory monitoring data stored in the Safe Drinking Water Information System database for treated or finished drinking water. Additional raw water quality monitoring data in the waterbodies serving public water systems may be available from other sources including DEQ's water quality monitoring data portal, USGS, individual water providers, local partners (i.e. soil and water conservation districts or watershed councils) or local volunteer monitoring.
In addition, Oregon DEQ conducted a series of monitoring tests of the source waters for 35 surface water intakes and 48 groundwater wells between 2008 through 2014, Raw water samples were collected upstream of intakes and at groundwater wells that serve as public water systems in 27 counties across the state. The samples were analyzed at the DEQ Laboratory for over 250 Oregon-specific herbicides, insecticides, pharmaceuticals, volatile organic compounds (including solvents and cleaners), fire retardants, PAHs, personal care products, and plasticizers. Of all surface water intake sites sampled, 88% had typical wastewater constituents detected and 59% had pesticide detections. In the groundwater sources, 85% had wastewater constituents and 39% of the samples had pesticide detections. With the exception of one chemical (arsenic), the levels of all parameters detected were very low and met health standards where available on an individual basis.
Low-level detections of chemicals in drinking water sources are important priorities for prevention because we lack health standards for many individual chemicals and there is no toxicity data for synergistic effects when multiple chemicals are present in finished drinking water. Sampling and analyzing for low levels of a broad range of chemicals in streams and groundwater provides DEQ and others the ability to prioritize pollutant reduction efforts on activities/land uses that impact those drinking water sources.
Summary of drinking water source monitoringDrinking Water Source Monitoring project that included collecting groundwater and surface water samples from 34 high-risk drinking water sources as identified through the Source Water Assessments. A total of 17 surface water intakes, 16 wells, and 1 spring were tested by DEQ to determine characteristics and detections in the source waters.
Articles summarizing Phase I 2008-09 monitoring
Additional source water monitoring was conducted between 2012 and 2014 by DEQ and others as part of regional projects. This included sampling for the Cities of Toledo, Lincoln City, Siletz, Irrigon and The Dalles; North Coast Sampling by the Tillamook Estuary Partnership; and USGS sampling of schools.