Identify Your Drinking Water Source 

Most drinking water, particularly in urban areas, is obtained through public water systems that serve multiple homes or entire communities. These can be groundwater wells or surface water intakes (pipes drawing from streams and rivers). If a well or intake serves more than three homes or connections, it is regulated as a public water system in Oregon.

If you get a monthly water bill, the name and telephone number of your water system operator should be on the bill. Call this number for more information on the source of your drinking water. You can also access information on the water system using the Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Program’s online database. (See “Data Online” in the right-hand sidebar and use the water system “WS Name Lookup” feature to find your water system.)

If you're a renter and don't receive a water bill, call your landlord for the water system operator's name. Other potential sources of information about your water include your local county health department, your local Oregon Water Resources Department watermaster district office at 503-378-8455, or the OHA Drinking Water Program at 971-673-0405.

In rural areas, household drinking water commonly comes from private wells (or less commonly, through surface water intakes). If your water comes from a household well or intake (serving one to three households), it is considered a "private" or "domestic" water supply” in Oregon. If you get your water from a private well or intake, you're responsible for its maintenance, testing and operation. DEQ provides information for private well owners.

Public water systems by law must sample and test for contamination on a regular basis and report the results to consumers. You can get the most recent "Consumer Confidence Report" for your water system from the water provider. Find the contact person for your water system and access the most recent test results on OHA's Drinking Water Program website. Click on "Data Online" and use the "WS Name Look Up" or "WS ID Look Up" to access system information.

Additional resources for understanding public water system regulations and treatment are on OHA's Drinking Water Program website. The “For Consumers” section (in the right sidebar) has information on the possible health effects of drinking water with various chemicals, home treatment systems and consumer confidence reports.

For additional help in understanding public water system regulations and treatment, call OHA's Drinking Water Program at 971-673-0405.

The Oregon Residential-Landlord Tenant Act (ORS 90.320) requires that all landlords maintain their rental units in a habitable condition, including providing a water supply maintained so as to provide "safe drinking water." If a renter has contaminated drinking water, the landlord is responsible for fixing or replacing the plumbing, or providing another source of safe drinking water. For mobile home parks that supply water to each home, the owner of the park is responsible for providing safe drinking water to the homes.

For more information on your individual rights, contact a private attorney or call "Legal Aid Services of Oregon" (a nonprofit assistance organization) at 1-800-228-6958.

Questions about regulations, water quality and testing

• For public water supplies:
  OHA Drinking Water Program, Portland 971-673-0405 (the duty officer will assist you)
• For private wells - well construction, maintenance and abandonment
  Oregon Department of Water Resources, Salem 503-986-0851
• For private wells - water quality and testing
  Oregon State University Extension Service website, or contact OHA's Drinking Water Program at 971-673-0405 (duty officer will assist you).

Questions about protecting a well or surface water intake from contamination

• For private wells:
  Oregon State University Extension Service website, or contact OHA's Drinking Water Program at 971-673-0405 (duty officer will assist you).
• For public water supplies:
  Sheree Stewart at DEQ, 503-229- 5413; or Tom Pattee at OHA, 541-726-2587, x24, as primary contacts.
  
  You can also refer to DEQ's Drinking Water Protection website. See especially the section, "Technical Assistance." You can find many excellent resources, links to information and documents to help develop strategies to protect your source water.