States › Oregon

Oregon Tap Water Quality 2026

EPA drinking water data for 368 cities across Oregon — covering lead levels, violation history, and compliance status.

Systems tracked: 322 Cities covered: 368 Updated: 2026 Q2
A

Oregon earns an A for overall water quality

368 communities across 36 counties and 322 water systems. 97.8% have no open violations.

Median lead where detected: 2.48 ppb
29.3% of systems report lead as not detected — a state filing convention, not a water quality measure
PFAS tested at 38.0% of communities; 11 above the federal limit
Lead reported for 100.0% of communities
97.8% of communities have no open violations
Water Systems
322
Active community systems
Median Lead Level
2.48 ppb
17% of EPA action level
Fully Compliant
97.8%
of systems — no active violations
How we grade states Grades are based on actual EPA enforcement data — MCL violations and lead levels measured against the 15 ppb federal action level. We do not use MCLG-based detections, which are aspirational zero-tolerance goals that would make nearly every state look dangerous. Read our full methodology →

Best & Worst Cities in Oregon

✓ Cleanest Water
Eugene
Lane County
4.5 ppb A
Salem
Marion County
2.0 ppb A
Hillsboro
Washington County
0.0 ppb A
Medford
Jackson County
0.0 ppb A
Beaverton
Washington County
2.6 ppb A
Springfield
Lane County
2.8 ppb A
⚠ Needs Attention
Warm Springs
Jefferson County
14.0 ppb F
Lakeview
Lake County
8.7 ppb D
Maupin
Wasco County
1.0 ppb D
Sandy
Clackamas County
13.0 ppb D
Portland
Multnomah County
4.9 ppb D
Maywood Park
Multnomah County
4.9 ppb D

Water Quality by County

36 of 36
Sort:
CountySystemsLead LevelViolationsGrade
Washington County 27 4.5 ppb 0 A
Clackamas County 25 2.1 ppb 0 A
Marion County 23 3.2 ppb 0 A
Lane County 20 3.6 ppb 0 A
Tillamook County 20 2.0 ppb 0 A
Umatilla County 18 2.0 ppb 0 A
Douglas County 18 4.0 ppb 0 A
Jackson County 17 1.6 ppb 0 A
Linn County 15 4.0 ppb 0 A
Deschutes County 13 1.1 ppb 0 A

About Oregon Drinking Water

Oregon is served by 322 community water systems covering 368 communities across 36 counties. 97.8% have no open violation on record.

Lead was detected in 260 communities, with a median of 2.48 ppb — 17% of the federal action level. A further 108 reported none detected. That share is a state reporting convention rather than a measure of water quality, so it is stated separately rather than averaged in.

PFAS has been tested at 38.0% of communities here, and 11 are above the limits EPA set in 2024. Coverage matters: states that test more find more, so this figure is not comparable with a state that has tested less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oregon tap water safe to drink? ▼
97.8% of communities have no open violation on record. 11 have PFAS above the federal limit set in 2024, which is the main open concern.
Does Oregon have a lead problem? ▼
12 water systems report a 90th-percentile lead result at or above the 15 ppb action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and 108 communities report no detection at all.
How complete is the data for Oregon? ▼
Lead results are reported for 100.0% of communities and PFAS for 38.0%. Where a figure is missing it is shown as not reported rather than assumed safe.
How does Oregon compare with other states? ▼
We do not rank states against each other. Lead reporting completeness ranges from under 20% to 100% depending on the state, so a national ranking would compare filing practice rather than water quality.