Water Quality Regulations

The federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 and the 1986 and 1996 amendments were developed to insure the quality and safety of the nation’s drinking water. The federal government, through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has the authority to regulate public water systems to protect public health. The EPA sets national drinking water standards and establishes drinking water testing methods. 

The Oregon Health Division (OHD) administers the drinking water regulations for EPA in our state. The OHD certifies water quality testing laboratories in Oregon, including the City of Corvallis Water Quality Lab. 

Currently, there are more than 120 water quality standards for potential contaminants in drinking water supplies in Oregon, and more standards will be added in coming years. A contaminant is defined as any substance in water. However, not all contaminants are harmful. Some of EPA’s current priorities are to develop regulations to strengthen the control of microbial pathogens, disinfectants and disinfectant by-products; to set new standards for arsenic, radon and other radionuclides; and to select and regulate at least five new contaminants found in water supplies every five years. 

Before the water reaches your tap, samples from the water treatment plants, reservoirs, and numerous locations throughout the water distribution system are tested. More than 100 tests are performed each day by treatment plant operators. Additional water testing is also performed at the city’s Water Quality Lab. Lab personnel routinely conduct more than 3,000 drinking water tests each year. Hundreds of other required tests are performed by state-certified contract labs that specialize in drinking water analyses. Results from all these tests are summarized and sent monthly to the OHD for review.