Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU delivers tap water graded C (72/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 666,200 residents in PORTLAND, Oregon using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 503-823-1251.
Is PORTLAND tap water safe to drink?
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (72/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 666,200 residents in PORTLAND, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 6 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Arsenic, Chromium (hexavalent), Chlorate. 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 PORTLAND residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for PORTLAND WATER BUREAU.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 30.6 ppb, 510x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 24.3 ppb, 243x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 22.5 ppb, 150x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.458 ppb.
Contact PORTLAND WATER BUREAU
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 PORTLAND
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 72/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
22.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 150× 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 |
5.05 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 |
0.0733 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
PORTLAND WATER BUREAU service area
This water system serves 1 community in Multnomah County, Oregon. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for PORTLAND water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.