Drinking Water

The Drinking Water Program administers and enforces drinking water quality standards for the 175 public water systems within Deschutes County. The program provides services to public water systems to reduce health risks and increase compliance with drinking water standards including required routine monitoring. The program focuses on water contamination prevention through and technical assistance to assure safe drinking water for Deschutes County residents.

Public water systems serving 3,300 people or less are regulated by Deschutes County. Examples of these systems are small communities, subdivisions, workplaces, schools, restaurants and campgrounds. Private or shared wells supplying three or less homes do not fall under Drinking Water Program rules.

Oregon Drinking Water Program Mission

Assure Oregonians safe drinking water by reducing the risk of waterborne disease and exposure to chemical contaminants in drinking water. Carry out that mission by implementing and enforcing USEPA drinking water quality standards at public water systems statewide, and providing related water system regulatory assistance.

Program Goals

Prevent or minimize contamination of public drinking water
Ensure water system personnel have the knowledge, skill and abilities to produce and deliver safe drinking water
Ensure physical facilities are adequate to reliably produce safe drinking water
Ensure all water quality standards are implemented and met
Assist in the education of water users about safe drinking water
Meet EPA National Drinking Water Goals

Interesting facts and commonly asked questions about public water systems:

There are 2,758 public water systems in Oregon
More than 3 million Oregonians are served by public systems
2,426 systems rely on groundwater alone
87percent of systems serve less than 500 people each
400,000 people in Oregon are served by individual private wells
95 percent of Oregonians receive water that meets all EPA standards (99 percent in Deschutes County)

Links

Non-Regulated Water Requirements

State Drinking Water Website: http://public.health.oregon.gov/HealthyEnvironments/DrinkingWater/Pages/index.aspx
Oregon Association of Water Utilities: http://www.oawu.net
Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov/
Department of Environmental Quality: http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ/
American Water Works Association: http://www.awwa.org/index.cfm?showLogin=N

Oregon Water Resources Department: http://www.oregon.or.us/

Contact Information

Jeff Freund, REHS
Jeff.Freund@deschutes.org
(541) 388-6563

Where does my drinking water come from?

Drinking water comes from surface and ground water sources. Surface sources include rivers, lakes or reservoirs and ground water sources are usually drilled wells. Smaller water systems tend to use wells while large systems like cities often rely on surface sources to supplement well supplies.

When surface water is used for drinking water, it must be filtered and disinfected before use. Public water systems using surface water are required to frequently monitor the water for contaminants in addition to the necessary treatment. Very few public systems in Deschutes County use surface water.

Locally, one common source for private drinking water is from cisterns. Cisterns are large tanks (usually made of concrete) that store water. If the cistern is filled by a water hauler from an approved source, it is generally considered safe. However, if the cistern is filled from a nearby irrigation canal it is not! Canal water is a surface source and is potentially contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms and/or chemicals. If you currently use irrigation water for human consumption, you should contact your irrigation district and review the Well and Cistern Disinfection information.

Wells are another common source of domestic water. If you are concerned about the quality of your well water, you may want to have your water tested. It is recommended that private wells are tested for coliform bacteria either quarterly or bi-annually, and for nitrates annually.

Deschutes County does not have laboratory facilities and cannot test water. There are, however, two certified labs in Central Oregon that can test water.

Umpqua Research in Bend: (541) 312-9454

Box R Labs in Prineville: (541) 447-4911

Homeowners can collect samples or have a lab collect samples for them. If you collect samples yourself, special sample bottles are needed and are available from the lab. Special sampling techniques should also be followed to ensure an accurate result.

Who samples my water and what do they look for?

Federal law requires public water systems to take routine water samples and report the results to the state. The size of the system determines the type of contaminants test and the sampling frequency. Typically, public community systems sample for bacteria every month, nitrates every year, and a variety of chemicals every three years. Only certified laboratories can analyze and interpret samples.

Local governments such as Deschutes County, monitor public water systems and ensure the required samples are taken and reported. Failure to properly sample and report water quality can result in fines and/or closure of facilities served by the system.

Households served by private wells are not required to do routine sampling, but it is recommended that water is tested for bacteria quarterly or bi-annually and for nitrates once per year. Ultimately, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain the quality of the drinking water.

How can I protect my private water supply?

The best way to prevent contamination of your well is to carefully manage the activities around the water source.
Make sure septic systems are at least 100 feet from the well
Store fuels and chemicals away from the wellhead
Periodically inspect the wellhead and check for cracks or gaps in the seal
Ensure surface runoff drains away from the well casing
Hire a licensed well driller for any modifications or alterations to the well