Lead Service Lines in Hillsboro, OR
Hillsboro's water systems serve about 97,977 people across the city and surrounding areas. The good news: no known lead service lines have been identified in the inventories reported so far. However, this doesn't mean lead pipes don't exist—it means they haven't been confirmed yet, or the data simply isn't complete.
Why this matters
Lead service lines are pipes that connect your water meter to the main water line under the street. If your line is made of lead, drinking water can pick up lead particles, especially if the water sits in pipes overnight or if the water is corrosive. Children and pregnant people are at highest risk from lead exposure.
Oregon law requires water systems to test and report on lead in their drinking water and to maintain an inventory of service line materials. Hillsboro's water systems are subject to these rules, but inventories take time to complete—especially for older neighborhoods where records may be incomplete.
What's known about Hillsboro's water
The largest system serving Hillsboro is the City of Hillsboro (92,632 people), followed by smaller systems like Hillsboro-Cherry Grove (1,628 people) and several small commercial and institutional water systems. Across all 27 water systems in the area, no known lead service lines have been reported in the current data.
That said, absence of reported lead doesn't mean absence of lead. Many water systems nationwide are still completing their inventories, especially in older neighborhoods where pipes were installed decades ago.
How to find out about your own service line
Your water utility maintains records about the material of pipes serving your address. The City of Hillsboro Water Division is the main utility for most residents.
Contact them directly to ask:
- What material is the service line to your home?
- Have they tested for lead in your drinking water?
- If lead is present, what treatment or replacement options are available?
You can also test your water yourself using a certified lab, though a utility test is often faster and more reliable.
Next steps for residents
- Contact your water utility (City of Hillsboro Water Division for most residents) and ask about your service line material.
- Request a lead test of your drinking water if you're concerned—especially if you have young children or are pregnant.
- Check the utility's Lead and Copper Rule report annually for updates on water quality testing in your area.
- Visit the EPA's lead in drinking water page for information on filters and other protective steps.