Drinking Water Rules

ORS 448.131 authorizes Drinking Water Services (DWS) to adopt administrative rules to ensure safe drinking water. OAR Chapter 333 Division 061 is reserved for regulations regarding public water systems and was last amended on February 1, 2023.

A complete set of the drinking water rules is in Chapter 333, Division 061.

Quick links to specific rules are provided below:

• 333-061-0005; 0010; 0015 Purpose; Scope; and Adoption by Reference
  
• 333-061-0020 Definitions
• 333-061-0025 Responsibilities of Water Suppliers
• 333-061-0030; 0031 Maximum Contaminant Levels and Action Levels; and Maximum Residual Disinfectant Levels
• 333-061-0032 Treatment Requirements and Performance Standards for Surface Water, Groundwater Under Direct Influence of Surface Water, and Groundwater
• 333-061-0034 Treatment Requirements and Performance Standards for Corrosion Control
• 333-061-0036 Sampling and Analytical Requirements
  
• 333-061-0040 Reporting and Record Keeping
• 333-061-0042 Public Notice
  
• 333-061-0043 Consumer Confidence Reports
• 333-061-0045; 0046 Variances and Permits
• 333-061-0050; 0055 Construction Standards and Waivers from Construction Standards
• 333-061-0057 Voluntary Drinking Water Protection Program
• 333-061-0060 Plan Submission and Review Requirements
• 333-061-0061; 0062 Capacity Requirements for Public Water Systems & Land Use Coordination
• 333-061-0063 Environmental Review Process for the Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Program
• 333-061-0064 Emergency Response Plan Requirements
• 333-061-0065 Operation and Maintenance
• 333-061-0070; 0071 Cross Connection Control Requirements; and Backflow Assembly Installation Standards
• 333-061-0072 Backflow Assembly Tester Certification
• 333-061-0073 Cross Connection Specialist Certification
• 333-061-0074 Cross Connection Training and Instructor Requirements
• 333-061-0075; 0076; 0077 Sanitary Surveys of Watersheds; Sanitary Surveys of Public Water Systems; and Composite Correction Program Comprehensive Performance Evaluations
• 333-061-0078 Coliform Investigations
• 333-061-0080 Role of Counties
  
• 333-061-0085; 0087 Supplemental Fluoridation; Product Acceptability Criteria
  
• 333-061-0089 Annual Fee for Public Water Systems
  
• 333-061-0090; 0095 Penalties and Severability
  
• 333-061-0097; 0098 Adverse Health Effects Language and References
  
• 333-061-0100 Requirements for Oregon Very Small Water Systems
  
• 333-061-0210 Operator Certification Program Scope
• 333-061-0220 Classification of Water Treatment Plants and Water Distribution Systems
  
• 333-061-0225; 0228; 0230; 0232 General Requirements Applying to Water Systems; Certification Requirements for Small Water System; Contracting For Services Operators; and General Requirements Applying to Water System Operators
• 333-061-0235 Operator Certification Requirements Levels 1-4
• 333-061-0245; 0250 Applications for Operator Certification Levels 1-4; and Examinations Levels 1-4
• 333-061-0260 Operator Certification Renewals Levels 1-4
• 333-061-0265 Operator Certification Fees
• 333-061-0270; 0272 Refusal, Suspension, or Revocation of Certification; Suspension of Certification; and Penalties
  
• 333-061-0305 through 0335 Domestic Well Testing Real Estate Transaction Purpose; Scope; Area of Public Health Concern; Domestic Well Tests; Accredited Laboratories; and Sample Collection
  
• 333-061-0400 Reducing Lead in School Drinking Water
  
• 333-061-0510 through 0580 Cyanotoxin Monitoring and Public Notification at Public Drinking Water Systems
  

Most Recent Rulemaking

Permanent rule amendments for arsenic treatment monitoring, lead service lines and miscellaneous clarifications 

The Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division (OHA), as of February 1, 2023, permanently amended Oregon Administrative Rules 333-061-0034, 333-061-0036, 333-061-0040, 333-061-0050, 333-061-0060, 333-061-0070, 333-061-0071, 333-061-0072, 333-061-0073, 333-061-0074, 333-061-0087, 333-061-0098, 333-061-0220, 333-061-0540, 333-061-0550 and 333-061-0560 to specify monitoring frequency when treatment for arsenic contamination is used, add lead service line inventory requirements, update requirements for backflow and cross connection protection, and clarify or improve other rule text. These rule amendments were filed with the Oregon Secretary of State and effective as of February 1, 2023.

Specific amendments and proposed rule language are identified in The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, The Statement of Need and Fiscal Impact and full text of the proposed rule.

Summary of Key Rule Elements

The following rules were amended as indicated below:

• OAR 333-061-0034: Clarify that corrosion control studies must be approved by the Authority prior to treatment installation.
• OAR 333-061-0036: Specify increased monitoring when treatment to remove arsenic is approved by the Authority; include lead service line inventory and replacement plan requirements, specify the 95% standard for properly treated water must be met within the calendar month when ultraviolet light (UV) is used to treat surface water; and identify monitoring parameters when UV treatment is used for 4-log disinfection of groundwater.
• OAR 333-061-0040: Clarify recordkeeping requirements when UV treatment is used for 4-log disinfection of groundwater.
• OAR 333-061-0050: Specify that piping which bypasses water treatment must have a physical gap to prevent untreated water from being delivered to users, clarify rule text for disinfection after repair of water pipes and clarify that review of standards is required when a system changes classification from Oregon very small water systems to a community public water system.
• OAR 333-061-0060: Clarify fees for plan review and approval and specify that corrosion control studies must be approved by the Authority prior to treatment installation.
• OAR 333-061-0070: Improve language according to recommendations from the Oregon Cross Connection Advisory Board.
• OAR 333-061-0071: Improve organization.
• OAR 333-061-0072: Improve language according to recommendations from the Oregon Cross Connection Advisory Board.
• OAR 333-061-0073: Improve organization.
• OAR 333-061-0074: Improve language according to recommendations from the Oregon Cross Connection Advisory Board.
• OAR 333-061-0087: Clarify NSF applicability.
• OAR 333-061-0098: Include documents cited within OAR 333-061-0060 and OAR 333-061-0072.
• OAR 333-061-0220: Clarify water treatment plant rating when on-site generated chlorine is used.
• OAR 333-061-0540: Clarify microcystins levels triggering additional monitoring.
• OAR 333-061-0550: Identify additional laboratory methods acceptable for cyanotoxin sample analysis.
• OAR 333-061-0560: Identify a level for microcystins reporting and clarify rule text.
  

Public Hearing and Comment Period

Public comments were accepted during the month of November 2022:

• Written comments could be submitted until 5:00 p.m. on November 30, 2022, to:
  
  OHA, Public Health Division
  Brittany Hall, Administrative Rules Coordinator
  800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 930
  Portland, OR 97232
  
  Or by email to publichealth.rules@odhsoha.oregon.gov or by facsimile to (971) 673-1299.
  

• Oral testimony could be provided by video or teleconference during a public hearing on November 17, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.