Quick Links:

• Oregon Drinking Water Quality Act of 1981
• Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) for Public Water Systems
• OARs for Water System Operator Certification
• OARs for Domestic Well Testing and Real Estate Transactions
• Rule Implementation Guidance

Oregon Drinking Water Quality Act

Enacted in 1981, the statute(periodically amended) includes Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 448.119 to 448.285; 454.235; and 454.255. The purpose of the above act is (in part) to:

• Ensure that all Oregonians have safe drinking water;
• Provide a simple and effective regulatory program for drinking water systems; and
• Provide a means to improve inadequate drinking water systems.

Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) for Public Water Systems

ORS 448.131 authorizes the Drinking Water Program (DWP) to adopt administrative rules to ensure safe drinking water. OAR Chapter 333 Division 061 is reserved for regulations regarding public water systems and was last amended on April 19th, 2010. Available for download as PDFs are the Table of Contents and the complete rules. Specific portions of the rules are also available below, ordered by section number. NOTE: Specific portions might include more than one section of the rules.

• Purpose; Scope; and Adoption by Reference (333-061-0005; 0010; 0015)
• Definitions; and Responsibilities of Water Suppliers (333-061-0020; 0025)
• Maximum Contaminant Levels and Action Levels; and Maximum Residual Disinfectant Levels (333-061-0030; 0031)
• Treatment Requirements and Performance Standards for Surface Water, Groundwater Under Direct Influence of Surface Water, and Groundwater (333-061-0032)
• Treatment Requirements and Performance Standards for Corrosion Control (333-061-0034)
• Sampling and Analytical Requirements (333-061-0036)
• Reporting and Record Keeping (333-061-0040)
• Public Notice (333-061-0042)
• Consumer Confidence Reports (333-061-0043)
• Variances and Permits (333-061-0045; 0046)
• Construction Standards and Waivers from Construction Standards (333- 061-0050; 0055)
• Voluntary Drinking Water Protection Program (333-061-0057)
• Wellfield Determination (333-0610-0058)
• Plan Submission and Review Requirements (333-061-0060)
• Capacity Requirements for Public Water Systems: Technical, Managerial and Financial (333-061-0061)
• Land Use Coordination (333-061- 0062)
• Environmental Review Process for the Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Program (333-061-0063)
• Emergency Response Plan Requirements (333-061-0064)
• Operation and Maintenance (333- 061-0065)
• Cross Connection Control Requirements (333-061-0070)
• Backflow Assembly Installation Standards (333-061-0071)
• Backflow Assembly Tester Certification (333-061-0072)
• Cross Connection Specialist Certification (333-061-0073)
• Cross Connection Training Programs, Course, and Instructor Requirements (333-061-0074)
• Sanitary (i.e., Water Sytem) Surveys of Watersheds and Sanitary (i.e., Water System) Surveys of Public Water Systems (333-061-0075; 0076)
• Composite Correction Program Comprehensive Performance Evaluations (333-061-077)
• Role of Counties; Supplemental Fluoridation; Product Acceptability Criteria and Severability (333-061-0080; 0085; 0087; 0090; 0095)
• Adverse Health Effects Language (333-061-0097)
• References (333-061-0098)

OARs for Water System Operator Certification

The purpose of operator certification is to protect public health and public water systems in Oregon. DWP accomplishes this by reviewing the experience, education and credentials of persons responsible for the production, treatment and distribution of public drinking water and determining their compliance with an established standard of proficiency. Rules were effective April 19th, 2010, and include application guidelines, general operator criteria and grade requirements; operator system classifications and fees are also covered. NOTE: Specific portions are ordered by section number, might include more than one section of the rules, and are downloadable as PDFs below. More information about operator certification can be found here.

• Purpose of Operator Certification; and Scope (333-061-0210; 0205)
• Classification of Water Systems (333-061-0220)
• General Requirements Applying to Water Systems; Certification Requirements for Small Water System; and Contracting For Services Operators (333-061-0225; 0228; 0230)
• Operator Requirements Levels 1-4 (333-061-0235)
• Applications for Certification Levels 1-4 (333-061-0245)
• Examinations Levels 1-4; and Certificate Renewal Levels 1-4 (333-061-0250; 0260)
• Fees (333-061-0265)
• Refusal, Suspension, or Revocation of Certification; Suspension of Certification; and Penalties (333-061-0270; 0272; 0290)

OARs for Domestic Well Testing for Real Estate Transactions

Amended in 2009, ORS 448.271 requires property owners, when selling Oregon real estate that includes a domestic well, to test the water for arsenic, nitrate and total coliform bacteria. Domestic wells are those used for drinking and other household purposes. Test results must be reported within 90 days to the real estate buyer and DWP after the seller receives the test results. Rules are downloadable as PDFs below. More information about domestic well testing for real estate transactions can be found here.

• Purpose; Scope; Area of Public Health Concern; Domestic Well Tests; Accredited Laboratories; and Sample Collection (333-061-0305; 0310; 0324; 0325; 0330; 0335)
• For more information about Domestic Well Testing and Real Estate Transactions, click here.

Rule Implementation Guidance

• Groundwater Rule: The Groundwater Rule applies to all public water systems that use groundwater sources or purchase groundwater. The primary purpose of the rule is to protect public health from bacterial and viral pathogens in public groundwater systems.
• Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule: The Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR) applies to all community and non-transient non-community water systems that add a primary or residual disinfectant other than ultraviolet light (UV), or deliver water that has been treated with a primary or residual disinfectant other than UV. Systems that purchase disinfected water are included in this rule. The Stage 2 DBPR builds on the existing Stage 1 rule and provides increased health protection.
• Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2): The purpose of the rule is to ensure adequate treatment of surface water sources with higher levels of Cryptosporidium and to address uncovered finished water reservoirs. The rule applies to all public water systems that use surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water (GWUDI).