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Independence, OR Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Independence Water System PWSID: OR4100399 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 3.00 ppb, 20% of the action level and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

A

Independence earns an A for water quality

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

Lead: 3.00 ppb — 20% of the federal action level
PFAS tested, none detected
8 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Independence's lead level vs. all Oregon community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 3.00 ppb — 20% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 42% of Oregon utilities
Population Served
9728
~2648 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
8 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
20% of EPA action level
3.00 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.
111.5% of EPA action level
1,450 ppb
Action level: 1,300 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 3.00 ppb, 20% 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 — — 2020 Resolved
COLIPHAGE MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2018 Resolved
COLIPHAGE MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2018 Resolved
COLIPHAGE MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2018 Resolved
COLIPHAGE MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2018 Resolved
COLIPHAGE MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2018 Resolved
COLIPHAGE MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2018 Resolved
COLIPHAGE MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2018 Resolved
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

8 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Independence Water System
PWSID OR4100399
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 9,728
Service connections 2,648
Systems serving this area 2
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Independence tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 3.00 ppb, 20% of the action level.
Does Independence water have PFAS? ▼
It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.
Who supplies water to Independence? ▼
Independence Water System (PWSID OR4100399), one of 2 systems serving this area. Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2022-05-25. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Independence 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
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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