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Oregon Health Authority

Make sure your well water is safe

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A hand holding a clear water glass under a running sink faucet  

Do you get your water from a well?

Protect your family. Get free tests, water and treatment.

Your well water quality might be dangerous to your health.

Contact us

Call 211 for help with your FREE well water test.

Make sure your water is safe.

Apply for a Testing Voucher

Use your testing voucher to get a free well water test.

Call 211

Online Well Testing Voucher Application

Printable Application

Request the application in another language

Nitrate levels above 10 milligrams per liter are

One red box reading unsafe/inseguro with a baby driking from a bottle, water from a tap flowing into a glass. ice cubes in a glass, water boiling. Blue box that reads safe/seguro with watering car atering plants, bathtub, clean dishes, a washing machine.  

You can get a FREE test if

You will not be asked to share your US citizenship status in this application and you can recieve a test no matter your status.

A person rolling two blue water jugs on a dolly 

FREE Household Water Delivery

We will sign you up for delivery of FREE bottled water for drinking and cooking if your test results show nitrate above 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of water.

Why should I test my well water?

  • High levels of nitrate in the water you use for drinking and cooking can cause long- and short-term health effects. Infants fed baby formula mixed with high levels of nitrate-contaminated water are at risk for blue baby syndrome, a condition causing decreased ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen.
  • Breast milk is safe for infants even if the water the mother is drinking has high level of nitrate.
  • Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not drink nitrate-contaminated water. There is some evidence that drinking water with high levels of nitrate can increase the risks of miscarriag and certain birth defects.
  • There is also weak and inconclusive evidence that long-term consumption of nitrate above 10mg/L may increase the risk of:
    • Thyroid issues
    • Cancer of the stomach or bladder
  • A high level of nitrate is any level above 10 milligrams per liter of water and is not safe to drink or cook with.
Fact Sheet: Nitrate and your health
A spigot with water flowing 

Is my home in the area receiving services?

map of the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGMWA)

Map of the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGMWA)