Drinking Water
Latest Stories

Morrow County declares emergency over high nitrate levels in wells
Morrow County has declared a local state of emergency due to high levels nitrates found in drinking water wells.

Portland plans faster action to reduce lead in drinking water
Portland Water Bureau leaders say they will speed up the timeline for their new treatment facility and distribute free water filters after recent tests revealed elevated lead levels in some homes.

Oregon wants quick fix to high lead levels in Portland’s water
This past November, Portlanders got an urgent reminder that the city’s lead problem has persisted. Out of 104 homes sampled by the water bureau, 10% had lead levels higher than 21 parts per billion (or ppb) — the highest results the city has seen in two decades and well above the federal limit.
Chlorine shortage prompts water restrictions in Longview, Washington
The chlorine shortage began earlier this month when the Westlake chemical plant in Longview had a major electrical failure. Now the chemicals used to disinfect drinking water are scarce throughout the Northwest.

Oregon’s communities of color face clean drinking water inequities, report says
The Oregon Water Futures Project highlights many water inequities communities of color face throughout the state and aims to change how state and local water policies are made.

Salem's Water Advisory 'Unlikely' To Be Lifted Monday
The city is still working on a strategy for treating toxins from an algae bloom in Detroit Reservoir.

After Salem Water Crisis, Cottage Grove Finds Algae Blooms In Dorena Reservoir
Yet another algae bloom is causing problems in Oregon.

Toxins Decrease In Salem's Water, But More Apologies From City Officials
A drinking water advisory in Salem could be lifted this weekend. Rumblings of the chaos the warning caused will linger.

Officials Have About 10 Years To Complete Bull Run Water Filtration Plant
State and Portland city officials have almost 10 years to build and start operating a water filtration plant in the Bull Run Watershed.

Eugene Schools Find Lead In Water
The Eugene School District said Monday it found elevated lead levels in the water at four separate schools.