The Facts on Eugene's Drinking Water Quality
Eugene's tap water is safe to drink, and we complete more than 85,000 tests and checks on water samples every year to keep it that way. EWEB has never violated a single Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or state drinking water standard. We have been monitoring for PFAS ("forever chemicals") since 2013 in both the McKenzie River and our treated drinking water and have never detected any.
A recent report from a third-party website, TownWaterCheck.com, gave Eugene's water a "B" grade. But the facts show Eugene's drinking water quality is strong, and the report itself contains inaccuracies and misleading framing.
Does Eugene's tap water contain lead?
No lead is present in the water EWEB treats and delivers. For decades, EWEB has tested our water for lead. This testing shows that there is no lead in the water that enters the distribution system. In addition, we have reviewed records and inspected pipes and there are no known lead components in the EWEB-owned pipelines that deliver water to local homes and businesses.
Your household plumbing could contain harmful lead. Lead solder was often used in homes built or plumbed with copper pipes before 1986. Lead is also common in brass faucets and fixtures manufactured before 2014. If your household plumbing contains lead, it can dissolve into water before it comes out of your tap. There are several low and no cost ways you can protect yourself from lead in household plumbing. Learn more.
Does Eugene's tap water contain PFAS ("forever chemicals")?
No. We have been monitoring for PFAS since 2013, and our results show that PFAS are not detected in our drinking water. Learn more.
“EWEB tests above and beyond for all of our contaminants,” said Brenda Casarez, EWEB’s water quality compliance specialist. “It does give a very comforting feeling that we test for these things, even before they are required, and we know that they are not in our water. It makes me very happy to be able to tell customers when they call me, we’ve already checked for that, and we don’t have it.”
TownWaterCheck's report lowered Eugene's grade in part because our Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) doesn't mention PFAS. CCRs follow a specific report format required by the EPA, and PFAS is not currently a required element in that format. EWEB's PFAS testing results are published by Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for public viewing on this website.
Is TownWaterCheck a government or regulatory source?
No. It's a commercial site that aggregates public EPA data and sells water filters through affiliate links. TownWaterCheck's own website states that "all conclusions represent our opinion."
Where can I find more information about Eugene's drinking water quality?
Our website has information on how your water is treated and answers to common questions. All of our drinking water reports and test results are posted publicly. Learn more.
Related Programs
Protecting the McKenzie
Protecting the McKenzie River Watershed helps to ensure excellent drinking water quality for customers and residents today and into the future.
Water Reliablity Projects
We're making investments to prepare, replace and maintain our community's water system.
