Does Portland have lead in the water?

Portland Water Bureau has not yet released a complete count of lead service lines. Federal law requires utilities to finish lead inventories by 2024. The best way to know if *your* home has lead is to contact your water utility for a free test.

How do I know if I have a lead service line?

Lead pipes are dull gray and soft (you can scratch them with a coin). Check where the water line enters your home, usually in the basement. Your water utility can also tell you based on your address and their records.

Is it safe to drink Portland tap water?

Portland's water meets federal safety standards. However, if your home has a lead service line, lead can leach into your water. Running cold water for 30 seconds before drinking and using a certified lead-reduction filter are practical steps while you wait for more information from your utility.

Who is responsible for replacing a lead service line?

Typically, the homeowner is responsible for the part of the service line on their property. Contact Portland Water Bureau or your local utility—some offer rebates or assistance programs for replacement.

Lead Service Lines in Portland, OR

Portland gets its water from the Bull Run Watershed, and the city has invested heavily in water quality. Still, like many older American cities, Portland may have lead service lines—the pipes connecting homes to the water main underground. These pipes are most common in houses built before 1980.

Lead service lines pose a real health risk, especially for young children and pregnant people. Lead can leach into drinking water, particularly if your water is slightly acidic or newly treated. The good news: you can take steps today to reduce exposure, and Portland utilities are working on inventories.

What we know about Portland's lead service lines

Portland Water Bureau serves 666,200 people and is the largest water system in the area. It has not yet published a comprehensive count of known lead service lines in its system. Rockwood PUD (65,443 people), West Slope Water District (11,000 people), Raleigh Water District (4,500 people), and Palatine Hill Water District (1,500 people) also serve the Portland metro area, and similarly have not released detailed lead inventories.

This does not mean there are no lead lines. Federal law (the Lead and Copper Rule) requires water systems to identify and inventory their lead service lines by 2024. Portland utilities are still in the process of gathering this data.

What you can do right now

Test your water. Contact your water utility for a free or low-cost test. Portland Water Bureau and the others listed above can tell you if lead has been detected in your home's water.

Know your home's age. Houses built before 1950 are more likely to have lead service lines. Even if your house is newer, the service line (your responsibility to maintain) could still be lead.

Use cold water for drinking and cooking. Hot water leaches lead faster. Run cold water for 30 seconds before using it for drinking or cooking, especially if water has been sitting overnight.

Consider a point-of-use filter certified for lead reduction (look for NSF/ANSI Standard 53). This is a practical step while waiting for utility inventories.

Next steps for residents

Call your water utility and ask about lead in your area and request a free water test.
Check your home's service line by looking at the pipe where it enters your basement or foundation (it's often silver or dull gray if it's lead).
If you have young children, talk with your pediatrician about lead testing and reduction strategies.
Visit your utility's website for updates on their lead service line inventory and replacement programs.

Lead service lines in Portland, OR