Oregon
Oregon sits in the Pacific and draws its water primarily from Cascade snowpack, Willamette River, Columbia River, and groundwater. With roughly 4.24 million residents, the state has a developing water reuse program, reusing an estimated 12% of its treated wastewater.
Oregonwater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Oregon
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 111 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 82 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | 53 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | 46 |
| Groundwater Rule | 33 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | 22 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
The wet west and arid east create a split state; the Klamath Basin is a flashpoint for water allocation.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Oregon currently tracks around severe to extreme conditions. Oregon has 941 community water systems serving about 4 million people; EPA records show 323 of them (34.3%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Oregon in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 167 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 6.6 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 22.5%
- Irrigation share
- 78.4%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~12%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Cascade snowpack
- ≈ Willamette River
- ≈ Columbia River
- ≈ groundwater
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Oregon?
Oregon has 941 community water systems serving about 4 million people. EPA records show 323 of them (34.3%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 17 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Oregon's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve Revised Total Coliform Rule, LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS, Surface Water Treatment Rule.
How much water does Oregon use per person?
Public water systems in Oregon withdraw about 167 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 22.5% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Oregon?
As of 2026-06-09, 84.1% of Oregon is in drought (D1+) and 44.2% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Oregon
12 trackedPortland
Portland, OR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Salem
Salem, OR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Eugene
Eugene, OR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Gresham
Gresham, OR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Hillsboro
Hillsboro, OR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Beaverton
Beaverton, OR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Bend
Bend, OR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Medford
Medford, OR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Springfield
Springfield, OR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Corvallis
Corvallis, OR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Albany
Albany, OR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Tigard
Tigard, OR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Oregon
Drought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
ExploreGroundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
ExplorePotable Reuse
Advanced purification turns treated wastewater into water that meets or exceeds drinking-water standards — increasingly essential in water-stressed regions.
Explore