States › Oregon › Columbia County

Columbia County, OR Water Quality

Water quality data for 9 public water systems serving Columbia County, Oregon — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 9 water systems · 9 cities
✅
Excellent — All Systems Performing Well

Water quality across the county is outstanding with minimal violations and very low lead levels.

A

Columbia County Earns a A

Columbia County: 9 communities across 9 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 1.02 ppb
  • 4 communities with a lead detection, 5 reporting none detected
  • 0 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 1 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
1.02 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
9
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
100%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Clatskanie
    1.27 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Scappoose
    Not detected
    1 health-based violation since 2015
    A
  • Vernonia
    Not detected
    1 health-based violation since 2015
    B
  • St. Helens
    1.03 ppb
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    A
  • Columbia City
    Not detected
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    B
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Prescott
    1.00 ppb
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    B
  • Deer Island
    1.00 ppb
    3 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • St. Helens
    1.03 ppb
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    A
  • Columbia City
    Not detected
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    B
  • Rainier
    Not detected
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
County Lead Level — Median 1.02 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 1.02 ppb — 6.8% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
4
No Data
5

All Cities in Columbia County

St. Helens 1.03 ppb A
Scappoose Not detected A
Vernonia Not detected B
Columbia City Not detected B
Rainier Not detected B
Clatskanie 1.27 ppb B
Warren Not detected B
Deer Island 1.00 ppb B
Prescott 1.00 ppb B
Showing 9 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Columbia County Drinking Water

Columbia County is served by 9 water systems covering 9 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 4 recorded a detection, with a median of 1.02 ppb — 7% of the federal action level. 5 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

No community here has PFAS above the federal limit on record. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 1 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbia County tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in Columbia County has an open violation on record. No community has PFAS above the federal limit on record.
What is the lead level in Columbia County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 1.02 ppb, 7% of the 15 ppb action level. 5 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Columbia County?▼
9 community water systems serve 9 communities here.
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