Community Water System · PWS OR4100657
Portland Water Bureau
Portland, Oregon 97227 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 666,200 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 666,200
- People served
- 32
- EPA violations
- 12
- Health-based
- No PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 32 drinking-water violations at Portland Water Bureau, 38% of them health-based - below the Oregon per-system average.
- 32
- Total EPA violations on record
- 38%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 666,200
- People served by this system
- 0
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: Portland Water Bureau
Portland Water Bureau is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 666,200 residents in Portland, Oregon (Multnomah County) through 187,700 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 32 total violations for this system , of which 12 (38%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 13 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2022.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 11 violations (MCL, health-based). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.
Across Oregon, EPA tracks 2,518 public water systems serving 4,005,242 people, with 206,659 cumulative violations and 20,339 health-based violations on record. About 99% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 82.1 violations. Statewide, 30 of 125 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (24%).
Portland Water Bureau's 32 violations sit below the Oregon average.
All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 187,700
- County
- Multnomah
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 11
- Monitoring Violations
- 13
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 1
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 11 | 2013 |
| Arsenic | MR | 2 | 2004 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | MR | 1 | 2007 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 1 | 2017 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MON | 1 | 2022 |
| Fluoride | MR | 1 | 1979 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MR | 1 | 1976 |
| Mercury | MR | 1 | 1979 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | MR | 1 | 1976 |
| Selenium | MR | 1 | 1979 |
| Barium | MR | 1 | 1979 |
| Chromium | MR | 1 | 1979 |
| Cadmium | MR | 1 | 1979 |
| Nitrate | MR | 1 | 1979 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 174 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFTrDA | 8/14/2024 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 8/14/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 8/14/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 8/14/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 8/14/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 8/14/2024 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 8/14/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 8/14/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 8/14/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 8/14/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 8/14/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 8/14/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 8/14/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 8/14/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 8/14/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 8/14/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 8/14/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 8/14/2024 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 8/14/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 8/14/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 8/14/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 8/14/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 8/14/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 8/14/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 8/14/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 8/14/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 8/14/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 8/14/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 8/14/2024 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 8/12/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 8/12/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 8/12/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 8/12/2024 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 8/12/2024 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 8/12/2024 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 8/12/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 8/12/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 8/12/2024 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 8/12/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
Verify This Water System
The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Portland Water Bureau.
EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:
View PWS ID OR4100657 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
Oregon Drinking Water Authority
Oregon's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.
Find OR regulator via EPA SDWISViolation Timeline
Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.
| Year (latest) | Contaminant | Category | Count | EPA Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | MON | 1 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 8000 |
| 2017 | Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 1 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 0800 |
| 2013 | Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 11 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 3100 |
| 2007 | Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | MR | 1 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 2039 |
| 2004 | Arsenic | MR | 2 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 1005 |
| 1979 | Fluoride | MR | 1 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 1025 |
| 1979 | Mercury | MR | 1 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 1035 |
| 1979 | Selenium | MR | 1 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 1045 |
| 1979 | Barium | MR | 1 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 1010 |
| 1979 | Chromium | MR | 1 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 1020 |
| 1979 | Cadmium | MR | 1 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 1015 |
| 1979 | Nitrate | MR | 1 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 1040 |
| 1976 | Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MR | 1 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 4000 |
| 1976 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | MR | 1 | SDWIS / OR4100657 / 4010 |
How Portland Water Bureau Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Portland Water Bureau | Oregon avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 32 | 82.1 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 12 | 8.1 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | None | 24% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 666,200 | 1,591 | Sizing context for compliance burden |
Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 2,518 regulated public water systems in Oregon.
Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
| Contaminant | Federal MCL / Action Level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) | Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique |
| Arsenic | 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) | Health-based MCL since 2006 |
| Total Coliform | Treatment technique (RTCR) | Indicator organism, monitoring trigger |
| PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) | 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) | Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026) |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | Acute health risk for infants |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portland Water Bureau water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does Portland Water Bureau serve? ▼
What type of violations does Portland Water Bureau have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in Portland Water Bureau water? ▼
What water source does Portland Water Bureau use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.