Addressing PFAS in drinking water

PFAS and Public Drinking Water

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's role is to prevent pollution to the sources of drinking water, meaning the lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater from which municipalities get public drinking water. DEQ also provides technical assistance to public water systems to identify ways to prevent pollution. Recommendations for protecting drinking water sources from PFAS contamination are below.

Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services is the lead agency for oversight of public drinking water systems including evaluating and adopting new requirements from EPA and coordinating PFAS sampling with EPA and public water systems. Some public water systems in Oregon have had their drinking water tested for PFAS or are currently doing so. More information on PFAS regulation, PFAS monitoring, and sample results for public water systems can be found on OHA Drinking Water Services PFAS website. DEQ tracks this data from OHA and provides support for source water protection where feasible.

For updates on how Oregon is implementing PFAS drinking water system regulations, see OHA PFAS Rule web page. If PFAS is found, funding may be available to help install treatment systems, but removing PFAS is costly and requires significant investment. One of the best ways to reduce PFAS risk is to understand where it comes from and how vulnerable your water source is.

Steps to Protect Your Drinking Water Source

PFAS is a complex and emerging contaminant. DEQ's Drinking Water Source Protection staff can help public water systems identify and reduce PFAS risks. Staff can also assist with data interpretation and outreach to nearby landowners who may use PFAS-containing products. For assistance, email Drinkingwater.Protection@deq.oregon.gov

1. Check your source's vulnerability
• Review your Source Water Assessment to understand your aquifer and well construction.
• Identify if your wells are shallow or lack protective barriers, which increases contamination risk.
2. Review your drinking water source area
• If your source area was mapped using the Calculated Fixed Radius method (used for systems serving fewer than 500 people), consider updating it to reflect current pumping rates and groundwater flow direction.
• Because PFAS are long-lasting and mobile, expand the area of concern beyond the usual 10 to 15 years of travel time.
3. Identify possible PFAS sources within your drinking water source area
• Firefighting and emergency response sites (airports, military bases, fire training centers, railyards).
• Waste facilities (wastewater treatment plants, landfills, biosolid application areas).
• Industries using or cleaning up PFAS (factories, manufacturing, or industrial sites).
• See the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council PFAS uses and products website for more examples. 
4. Reducing PFAS risk at businesses and industrial sites
• Connect with facility owners in your drinking water source area to understand the products they use.
• Share information about pollution prevention and safe chemical handling.
• Encourage businesses to reduce PFAS use and follow best practices for wastewater and stormwater management.
• Explore DEQ's Drinking Water Source Protection Strategies for Commercial and Industrial Land Uses guidance document and consider other general or business sector specific strategies for pollution risk reduction. 
• Provide guidance on reducing toxic chemical use (resources available from DEQ's Hazardous Waste Management Guidance Technical Assistance Specialists).
5. Reducing risk at landfills and wastewater treatment plants
• Connect with facility owners in your drinking water source area to understand the products they use. Encourage PFAS testing and improved waste handling.
• Work with regulators to ensure compliance and risk reduction. 
6. Addressing contaminated sites
• Contact DEQ Cleanup program or Drinking Water Source Protection programs for help assessing risks and planning protective actions. Review Your DEQ Online for known contamination areas.