Oregon's Domestic Well Safety Program
Nearly 23% of Oregonians rely on domestic wells, or private wells, as their primary source of potable water. This makes groundwater protection and well stewardship important to public health. The
Oregon Domestic Well Safety Program (DWSP) works to protect the lifelong health of people in Oregon and our groundwater resources. We partner with local health departments and other state agencies to assess and manage risks associated with private wells and promote domestic well safety.
**AVAILABLE NOW** - Lower Umatilla Basin Domestic Well Testing and Treatment Assistance: If you live within the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA) of Morrow and Umatilla Counties, you may be eligible for free/subsidized private well testing and treatment, and if needed access to bottled water. The Oregon Health Authority is currently providing vouchers for private or "domestic" water testing to LUBGWMA well users. Vouchers will cover testing for Nitrate, Arsenic, Bacteria, Lead, and Iron, Manganese, and Hardness. OHA will soon begin providing vouchers for in-home treatment systems for households whose domestic well water has tested high for nitrates (whether through tests funded by OHA beginning in February 2023 or testing carried out since June 2022 by Morrow or Umatilla Counties). For more information, visit the
Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area Domestic Well Testing and Treatment page. ---Para información en español, oprima aquí.
Available now - Wildfire Well Testing Assistance Vouchers: If you sustained losses or damage due to wildfires in 2020 (those wildfires beginning September 7), you may be eligible for free/subsidized private well testing. Beginning in November 2021, Oregon Health Authority will provide vouchers for private or "domestic" water testing to residential fire impacted well owners. Vouchers will cover testing for Arsenic, Nitrate, Bacteria, Lead and, depending on damage assessment results, Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes (BTEX). For more information, visit the Wildfire-Impacted Domestic Well Testing page.
Available now - Water Well Abandonment, Repair, and Replacement Fund: The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) is currently accepting applications from low-to-moderate income households with domestic wells that are impacted by drought or wildfire. The Water Well Abandonment, Repair, and Replacement Fund provides financial assistance to permanently abandon, repair or replace a water well used for household purposes. Applications will be accepted year-round, depending on availability of funds.
At this time, funding is available only for dry or declining wells, or wells impacted by wildfire.
Available now - Deschutes County Well Repair and Replacement Rebate Program:
NeighborImpact, through funds provided by Deschutes County, is providing rebate payments to Deschutes County homeowners who had to replace or repair their domestic well due to drought conditions Eligible applicants will receive rebates of up to $2,000. Funding is limited, and rebates will be awarded to eligible applicants in order of applications received until the funding is exhausted. For information, please
click here.
Quick Links