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Portland, OR Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Portland, OR — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Portland's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Portland Water Bureau PWSID: OR4100657 Updated: 2026 Q2
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1 violation currently open

Lead is 4.89 ppb, 33% of the action level. No PFAS was detected.

D

Portland earns a D for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 4.89 ppb — 33% of the federal action level
PFAS tested, none detected
2 violations since 2015, 1 health-based
1 violation currently open
Portland's lead level vs. all Oregon community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 4.89 ppb — 33% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 17% of Oregon utilities
Population Served
625599
~187700 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
1
1 open of 2 since 2015

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
33% of EPA action level
4.89 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
Copper (Cu)
90th percentile of tap samples. SDWIS reports a copper figure only when a system exceeds the action level, so any value here is an exceedance.
138.5% of EPA action level
1,800 ppb
Action level: 1,300 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 4.89 ppb, 33% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home. Copper reached the action level here; a copper figure appears in SDWIS only when a system triggers it.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Revised Total Coliform Rule MONITORING FAILURE — — 2022 Resolved
Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2017 Unaddressed
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

1 violation remains open, out of 2 recorded since 2015 (1 health-based).

About the Main Water System

Utility Portland Water Bureau
PWSID OR4100657
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 625,599
Service connections 187,700
Systems serving this area 14
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portland tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. 1 violation(s) remain open. Lead is 4.89 ppb, 33% of the action level.
Does Portland water have PFAS? ▼
It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.
Who supplies water to Portland? ▼
Portland Water Bureau (PWSID OR4100657), one of 14 systems serving this area. Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2023-12-13. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Portland Residents Do?

1
Read your annual water report
Your supplier publishes a Consumer Confidence Report each July covering the prior year.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Follow the open violation
This system has an unresolved violation. Contact the supplier for its corrective-action schedule.

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