Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Portland, Oregon
Tap water in Portland, Oregon receives a grade of C (74/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 2 public water systems, primarily ROCKWOOD PUD. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Portland's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utilities serving Portland.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 24.8 ppb, 414x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 23.1 ppb, 231x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 24.0 ppb, 160x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.458 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for ROCKWOOD PUD (system ID OR4100668) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Water systems serving Portland
Portland is served by 2 public water systems. Click any utility to see its complete grade card and treatment plant contact info.
ROCKWOOD PUD
- Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU
- Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Recommended filters for Portland
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Portland's water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in Portland's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
30.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 510× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
24.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 243× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
24.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 160× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.458 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 115× over |
| Arsenic* Heavy metal |
0.458 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 115× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0362 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.8× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
317.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.5× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.092 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.092 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
17.3 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.764 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
18.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.026 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide Inorganic |
1.75 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.13 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.000833 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide* Inorganic |
1.75 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite* Inorganic |
0.000833 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from ROCKWOOD PUD.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Portland's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: