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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for PORTLAND WATER BUREAU • Updated September 2026
Grade C — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU has a mixed record — read the reasons below; the deductions come from real EPA violations, lead results or PFAS detections, not from a template.
Portland, OR tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records because of no health-based EPA violations in the last five years and lead at 4.9 ppb (90th percentile, 2025) against the 15 ppb action level. A certified filter matched to those findings is a reasonable precaution.
Portland, OR tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records because of no health-based EPA violations in the last five years and lead at 4.9 ppb (90th percentile, 2025) against the 15 ppb action level. A certified filter matched to those findings is a reasonable precaution.
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31) was 4.89 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 174 UCMR5 PFAS results for PORTLAND WATER BUREAU (2024-02-12 to 2024-11-12) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU has 2 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years (1 still unresolved) and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 666,200 people (EPA PWSID OR4100657).
Not on the strength of EPA's data for PORTLAND WATER BUREAU. A filter still helps with taste and with lead from your own plumbing, which no city-level test can measure.
Want to know what's really in your Portland tap water?
EPA data describes water leaving the plant — a certified mail-in lab test shows what reaches your own faucet, including lead from household plumbing.
Tap Score certified lab · Amazon. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-07
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years. The 1 violation on file in that window is monitoring or reporting paperwork issues, not measured contaminant exceedances. Older health-based violations (since 2016) are listed below for context.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to Filter (SWTR)Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment technique | 2017-12-18 | Unaddressed |
| Monitoring, Routine (RTCR)Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | 2022-07-01 → 2022-07-31 | Resolvedreturned 2022-07-31 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by PORTLAND WATER BUREAU
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31), 90% of the homes PORTLAND WATER BUREAU sampled had lead at or below 4.89 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 → 2025-12-31 | 4.89 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2024-01-01 → 2024-12-31 | 4.4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2023-07-01 → 2023-12-31 | 7.72 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2023-01-01 → 2023-06-30 | 6.06 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2022-07-01 → 2022-12-31 | 11.72 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2022-01-01 → 2022-06-30 | 10.98 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2021-07-01 → 2021-12-31 | 21.04 ppb | Above the 15 ppb action level |
| 2021-01-01 → 2021-06-30 | 10.94 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2020-07-01 → 2020-12-31 | 13.8 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2020-01-01 → 2020-06-30 | 12.88 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2019-07-01 → 2019-12-31 | 11.6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2019-01-01 → 2019-06-30 | 13.1 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Copper 90th percentile: 1.8 mg/L (1992-01-01 → 1992-06-30); action level 1.3 mg/L.
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2024-02-12 to 2024-11-12 · 174 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 174 UCMR5 PFAS results for PORTLAND WATER BUREAU were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 6 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 6 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 6 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 6 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for PORTLAND WATER BUREAU · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples PORTLAND WATER BUREAU reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Haloacetic acids (HAA5) is flagged below; the status column explains why. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 155 detects | 0.336 µg/L | 1.46 µg/L | 10 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Nitrate (as N) | 1614 detects | 0.107 mg/L | 0.45 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 136 detects | 0.071 mg/L | 0.18 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 150 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 100 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Uranium (combined) | 30 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 30 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Radium-226/228 | 20 detects | 0 pCi/L | ND | 5 pCi/LMCL | Not detected |
| Gross alpha | 20 detects | 0 pCi/L | ND | 15 pCi/LMCL | Not detected |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 356 | 25.279 µg/L | 56 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 356341 detects | 29.574 µg/L | 76.7 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 16 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Lead (tap samples) | 1,8221672 detects | 6.171 µg/L | 648 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 1,8221739 detects | 137.776 µg/L | 941 µg/L | 1300 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving Portland will follow up - no obligation.
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU · 189,613 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU reports no lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines and has classified 100% of its 189,613 lines as non-lead. Lead can still come from pre-1986 plumbing and fixtures inside a home.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID OR4100657 · See all Oregon lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Portland homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Portland faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Portland households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Portland ranks #3 of 3 graded Oregon cities.
Portland, OR tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records because of no health-based EPA violations in the last five years and lead at 4.9 ppb (90th percentile, 2025) against the 15 ppb action level. A certified filter matched to those findings is a reasonable precaution.
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31) was 4.89 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 174 UCMR5 PFAS results for PORTLAND WATER BUREAU (2024-02-12 to 2024-11-12) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU has 2 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years (1 still unresolved) and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 666,200 people (EPA PWSID OR4100657).
Not on the strength of EPA's data for PORTLAND WATER BUREAU. A filter still helps with taste and with lead from your own plumbing, which no city-level test can measure.
Even with good water quality, a filter removes trace contaminants and improves taste.
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