Oregon's Domestic Well Safety Program
Nearly 23% of Oregonians rely on domestic wells, or private wells, as their primary source of potable water. This makes groundwater protection and well stewardship important to public health. The
Oregon Domestic Well Safety Program (DWSP) works to protect the lifelong health of people in Oregon and our groundwater resources. We partner with local health departments and other state agencies to assess and manage risks associated with private wells and promote domestic well safety.
Drink well water? Test it regularly to protect health. ¿Bebe agua de pozo? Haga pruebas constantes para proteger su salud.
Available Now: Lower Umatilla Basin Domestic Well Testing and Treatment Assistance
If you live within the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA) of Morrow and Umatilla Counties, you may be eligible for free/subsidized private well testing and treatment, and if needed access to bottled water. The Oregon Health Authority is currently providing vouchers for private or "domestic" water testing to LUBGWMA well users. Vouchers will cover testing for Nitrate, Arsenic, Bacteria, Lead, and Iron, Manganese, and Hardness. OHA will soon begin providing vouchers for in-home treatment systems for households whose domestic well water has tested high for nitrates (whether through tests funded by OHA beginning in February 2023 or testing carried out since June 2022 by Morrow or Umatilla Counties). For more information, visit the
Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area Domestic Well Testing and Treatment page. Para información en español, oprima aquí.
Available Now: Water Well Abandonment, Repair, and Replacement Fund
The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) is currently accepting applications from low-to-moderate income households with domestic wells that are impacted by drought or wildfire. The Water Well Abandonment, Repair, and Replacement Fund provides financial assistance to permanently abandon, repair or replace a water well used for household purposes. Applications will be accepted year-round, depending on availability of funds.
At this time, funding is available only for dry or declining wells, or wells impacted by wildfire.
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