Domestic Water Well and Surface Water System Assessment
The Department has launched a survey to learn how the 2021 wildfires have impacted private drinking water wells and surface water systems. If you rely on a private well or surface water system for your domestic water, please take five minutes to complete the survey to help us understand damage caused by the 2021 wildfires.
Post-Fire Wildfire Recovery Information
The 2021 wildfires impacted many public and private water systems, with immediate effects to infrastructure and equipment used for treatment, storage, and distribution. For general information and resources for drinking water supply recovery, visit Oregon's Wildfire Response webpage.
The Department has developed a handout on Post-Fire Water Right Considerations and a handout on Maintaining Your Wells After Wildfire.
Private Water Well Resources
If you need to have your water well inspected or are looking for a licensed professional to repair, replace, or abandon your water well, please visit the
WRD driller database. For licensed contractors to work on water pumps or electrical to inspect or repair the wires, visit the
Construction Contractors Board database and the
Building Codes database.
The federal government can also provide resources to assist with private water well repairs. The US Department of Agriculture Rural Development program offers
Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants to low-income homeowners. Loans of up to $40,000 may be used to repair, improve, or modernize homes, including private water wells, and grants up to $10,000 are available to low income seniors (age 62 or older) to remove health and safety hazards. The Federal Emergency Management Administration has also issued
a press release related to potential funding assistance for private well damage.
The Rural Community Assistance Corporation also offers
free drinking water well assessments and low interest
Household Water Well System Loans up to $18,000 to construct, refurbish, or replace individual water well systems.
The Oregon Health Authority is offering free domestic well testing (Spanish) for 2020 wildfire survivors. Applications for domestic well testing vouchers will be open from November 1, 2021-May 15, 2023 in the OHA web portal.
WARRF
The Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement Fund (WARRF) provides financial assistance to individual households, or members of
a federally recognized tribe in Oregon. This financial assistance can
be used to permanently abandon, repair, or replace a water well used for
household purposes.
The Department is accepting applications
from low-to-moderate income households with domestic wells in areas that
are impacted by drought or wildfire.