Drinking water quality · 2025
What's in Bend, OR tap water
21 contaminants were measured in the Bend, OR water system's 2025 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2025
- Contaminants measured
- 21
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- PFOA
- Service area
- OR
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound above EPA limits in Bend, OR
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (2.0×)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHpA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Bend, OR's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 20 sources.
Source
- OUTBACK · 7
- PILOT BUTTE · 3
- ROCK BLUFF · 3
- WELL · 2
- + 4 more
Treatment
- TP FOR BRIDGE CREEK
- TP FOR OUTBACK WELLS
- TP FOR PILOT BUTTE WELLS
- + 5 more
Distribution
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based1 violation on record · most recent Oct 2014resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 8 ug/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Approaching the limit |
| MercuryA toxic metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial runoff. | 1 ug/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.11 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | None detected |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 11 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 1.7 ng/LAverageOf Results | None set | Within the limit |
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.2 ng/LAverageOf Results | None set | Within the limit |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.8 ng/LAverageOf Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 2.6 ng/LAverageOf Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine Free | 1.5 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Pentachlorophenol | 0.1 ug/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 12 ug/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | Not detected mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
Physical & aggregate
Inorganic chemicals
People also ask about Bend, OR's water
+Is Bend, OR tap water safe to drink in 2025?
The 2025 Consumer Confidence Report for the Bend, OR water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: PFOA. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Bend, OR tap water?
21 contaminants were measured in Bend, OR's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), metals, and disinfection byproducts. 4 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Bend, OR tap water?
One contaminant in Bend, OR's 2025 report sits at or above the federal limit: PFOA (3.2× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Bend, OR tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2025 report is PFOA, at 3.2× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Bend, OR tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Arsenic. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Bend, OR's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Bend, OR's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2025 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.