Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
BEND, CITY OF
BEND, CITY OF delivers tap water graded D (58/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 77,704 residents in BEND, Oregon using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 541-693-2180.
Is BEND tap water safe to drink?
BEND, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (58/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 77,704 residents in BEND, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 7 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Nitrate and nitrite. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for BEND residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for BEND, CITY OF.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.05 ppb, 512x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 6.49 ppb, 108x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 8.14 ppb, 81x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact BEND, CITY OF
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for BEND
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 58/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.05 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 512× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
6.49 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 108× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
8.14 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 81× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
7.03 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 47× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.477 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 24× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.595 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 6.6× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.183 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.3× over |
| Vanadium Other |
10.3 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.057 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Mercury (inorganic) Heavy metal |
0.122 ppb | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
11.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.00773 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.06 ppb | 3.0 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.205 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.665 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.235 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.21 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0297 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0689 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.0122 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
BEND, CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Deschutes County, Oregon. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for BEND water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.