Small Water Systems

What is a small water system?

The Safe Drinking Water Act defines small water systems as public water systems that serve 10,000 or fewer people. In Oregon, 93% of community water systems meet this definition, but most serve much smaller populations. About 70% of community water systems in Oregon serve 500 or fewer people.

Small Water System Outreach Project

Small water systems often face unique financial and operational challenges in consistently providing drinking water that meets Safe Drinking Water Act standards and requirements. To learn how the Drinking Water Source Protection Program is working to support Oregon’s small public water systems with source water protection, check out the Drinking Water Source Protection for Small Water Systems.

Source water protection resources

Source water protection is the practice of safeguarding sources of drinking water from contamination. Small systems can take numerous actions to protect, maintain, or improve the quality and quantity of their drinking water to protect public health. Additional benefits of source water protection include preserving water quality for wildlife and recreational use, ensuring a reliable water supply, and reducing the need for costly water treatment processes. For suggested ways to protect your drinking water, review your system's Source Water Assessment and Pollutant reduction strategies document. To find a Source Water Assessment for surface water systems, visit the Department of Environmental Quality's Source Water Assessment Database. For groundwater systems, contact Paula Rich, Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services. More information can also be found on DEQ's Protecting Your Source webpage.

Small water system capacity building

• Oregon Health Authority's Water System Capacity
• United States Environmental Protection Agency's Building the Capacity of Drinking Water Systems
• Oregon Health Authority's Drinking Water Data Online
• Oregon Health Authority's Circuit Rider Program
• Oregon Housing and Community Services Manufactured Home and Marina Communities Resource Center
• Oregon Association of Water Utilities
  

Funding

• Oregon Health Authority's Drinking Water Source Protection Fund 
  • Note: Publicly and privately owned community water systems and non-profit non-community systems are eligible to apply for funding
    
• Oregon Health Authority's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund 
• Note: Publicly and privately owned community water systems and non-profit non-community systems are eligible to apply for funding.
  
• Department of Environmental Quality's Clean Water State Revolving Fund 
• Note: Public agencies are eligible to apply for loans, including tribal nations, cities, counties, sanitary districts, soil and water conservation districts, irrigation districts, various special districts and certain intergovernmental entities. 
• Craft3 Community Crafted Lending
• For additional resources, visit Funding for Public Water Systems
  

Public education material

To help protect drinking water, inform residents and other local landowners about the risks of spills, leaks, and improper handling of chemicals, fuels, wastewater, pesticides, and fertilizers. Outreach can be done through local media, door hangers, or utility bills.

• Clean Drinking Water Starts With Good Stewardship | Manteniendo el agua potable limpia comienza con un buen cuidado
• Household Hazardous Waste Flyer | Protejamos Nuestra Agua Potable
• Do Your Part. Be Septic Smart (courtesy of EPA) | Ponga de su parte. ¡Conozca SepticSmart!  (cortesía de la EPA)
• Potential for Aquifer Groundwater Contamination: Abandoned and/or Deteriorated Wells | Potencial de contaminación del agua subterránea del acuífero: pozos abandonados y/o deteriorados
• Drug Takeback Program
  
• Protect Your Well Water (English/Español, OSU)
  
• Neighbor Letter
  Use this letter template to communicate with nearby businesses about their potential impacts to your drinking water and encourage them to use best management practices to help protect this shared resource. 
  
• Carta al vecino
  Use este plantilla para comunicar con los negocios en su vecindario sobre el posible impacto en su agua potable, y animarlos a usar buenas prácticas para ayudar a conservar este recurso compartido.
  

For more source water protection fact sheets, visit our Publications page.