The City of Heppner is pleased to provide you with this year’s Annual Water Quality Report. It is our responsibility to keep you informed about the water and services we have delivered to you over the past year. It is our goal here at the City of Heppner to provide you with a safe Drinking water system and information on the Quality of the water we all drink.
We encourage you to share this information with anyone who drinks this water, especially those who may not have received this report directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this report in a public place or distributing copies by hand, mail, or email.
Where’s my water coming from?
Your water primarily comes from three wells. The first well is 12 miles up Willow Creek. Your water comes from a deep basalt well in the Willow Creek aquifer; we call it Well #1. This well produces around 225 GPM (Gallons per Minute). The next well is just 2 miles down Willow Creek from Well #1; it runs only in the summer months to keep up with high city demand, and occasionally in the winter for testing purposes. This is Well #2. Well #2 received a new turbine pump in the summer of 2018. The last well is down the creek, 9 miles from Well #1. It also runs most often in the summer, but is also occasionally run in the winter for testing purposes. This is Well #3. The city conducted extensive rehabilitation of this well in 2011 following the May 2011 floods. The water pumped from these wells runs into Reservoir #1 and into town. It also runs to Reservoir #2, then is pumped into Reservoir #3. Most of the distribution system inside the City was replaced in 2005 & 2006. In the summer of 2013, we also replaced the water on Elder St, Aiken St, and Barrett Blvd. We do still have some old piping in service.
The source water assessment identified potential sources of contamination, including agricultural activities, septic systems, and natural geologic conditions. Based on available data, the City’s water sources are considered to have a low to moderate susceptibility to contamination.
Master Plan and Water System Survey
The City of Heppner completed its updated Water System Master Plan (WSMP) and submitted it to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) at the beginning of 2025. The plan was accepted and approved by the Oregon Health Authority. During WSMP development, the East Pressure Zone (Rock Street area) was identified as having insufficient pressure during fire flow events. In response, the Heppner City Council has prioritized this area for future improvements and is actively pursuing funding to address these deficiencies. Planned improvements include upgrades to the East Pressure Zone, rehabilitation and repair of all pressure-regulating valves, and replacement of aging mainline sections that were not addressed during the 2005 water system upgrade project. In addition, the Gilmore Street project has been awarded and is scheduled for summer 2026, in which we will replace the aging 8-inch water mainline.
The Water System Survey was conducted on May 1, 2025. During the inspection, the Oregon Health Authority’s Drinking Water Services division reviewed all wells and reservoirs and conducted a thorough records review with city staff. As part of the findings, the Water Department was advised to complete or update its Water Operator’s Manual and Emergency Response Plan. The system was found to be in compliance, with no deficiencies noted.
Where do I go or whom do I call for questions?
If you have any questions or concerns, you can call City Hall (541-676-9618). You are welcome to attend City Council meetings, held on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 pm in City Hall, and Utility Commission meetings, held on the third Thursday of the month at 8:00 am, also at City Hall. You may also review the City of Heppner Source Water Assessment during City Hall’s normal business hours (9:00 am to 5:00 pm). If you are curious about what we test for and the results, you can find them at yourwater.oregon.gov. After you reach the homepage, click Water System Search, then enter 00369 for the City of Heppner.
What is in my water?
The City of Heppner routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water as required by both federal and state laws. As your water travels, it may pick up substances such as microbes, inorganic and organic chemicals, and radioactive substances. The City tests only for coliforms; other microbes, such as cryptosporidium and shigella, have not been found in our drinking water system. Radioactive elements we test for are Radium and Uranium. Radioactive decay products we test for are Alpha and Beta. (Gamma is not tested for) All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain small amounts of some contaminants. Please keep in mind that the presence of these contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk.
What else should I know?
You should also know about TOTAL COLIFORM. Coliform bacteria are usually harmless, but their presence in water can indicate the presence of disease-causing bacteria, such as fecal coliform. The total coliform rule requires water systems to meet a strict limit for coliform bacteria, which must be either present or absent. When coliform bacteria are detected, follow-up samples are collected to determine whether harmful bacteria are present in the water supply. If the resample is positive for coliform, the water supplier (City of Heppner) must notify the public by newspaper, television, or radio. We collect two samples of our drinking water each month for coliform testing. To comply with this strict regulation, we have increased the chlorine level in the distribution system.
What is a MCL?
The MCLs are set at very stringent levels; basically a person would have to drink two liters of water every day at the MCL level for a life time to have a one-in-a-million chance of having health effect. The table on the next page defines several terms used.
ACTION LEVEL: the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
MAXIMUM CONTAMINENT LEVEL (MCL): the “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL GOAL (MCLG): the “Goal” is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for margin of safety.
NITRATES: As a precaution we always notify physicians and health care providers in this area if there ever is a higher than normal level of nitrates in the water supply.
LEAD: lead in drinking water is rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning, but it can add to a person’s total lead exposure. All potential sources of lead in the household should be identified and removed, replaced or reduced.
MG/L: Milligrams per Liter is a term we use for expressing the concentration of
a chemical or a contaminant in our water system. This term is often referred to as
Parts per million. That corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny
in $10,000.
Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (ug/l) one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.
Picocuries per liter (pCi/l) Picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.
Non-Detects (ND) laboratory analysis indicates that contaminates are not present at the detection level.
| Contaminant | MCL | MCLG | Detection Level | Year Sampled | Complies (Is it ok) | Potential Sources |
| Inorganics | ||||||
| Arsenic | .01mg/l | 0 | ND | 2025 | Yes | Run off from fertilizer & erosion from natural deposits |
| Nitrate | 10mg/l | 10mg/l | ND | 2025 | Yes | |
| Asbestos | 7 MFL | 7 MFL | ND | 2022 | Yes | Decay of asbestos cement water mains; erosion of natural deposits |
| Radioactive | ||||||
| Gross Alpha | C | 0 | ND | 2023 | Yes | Erosion of natural deposits |
| Combined Radium 226/228 | 5pCi/l | 0 | ND | 2022 | Yes | Erosion of natural deposits |
| Combined Uranium | 30 mg/l | 0 | 0.0008 mg/l | 2023 | Yes | Erosion of natural deposits |
| Contaminant | MCL | MCLG | Detection Level | Year Sampled | Complies (Is it ok) | Potential Sources |
| Lead | .015 mg/l | 0 | .0105 mg/l (90th Percentile) 1 Site Above Action Level | 2023 | Yes | Corrosion of household plumbing; erosion of natural deposits |
| Copper | 1.3 mg/l | 0 | .085 mg/l (90th Percentile) 0 Sites Above Action Level | 2023 | Yes | |
| Unregulated Contaminants | ||||||
| Contaminant | MCL | MCLG | Detection Level | Year Sampled | Complies (Is it ok) | Potential Sources |
| Sodium | n/a | n/a | 25.9 mg/l | 2022 | Yes | Erosion & Natural Deposits |
| Fluoride | 4mg/l | 4mg/l | 0.531 mg/l | 2022 | Yes | |
| Disinfection Byproducts | ||||||
| MCL | MCLG | Detection Level | Year Sampled | Complies (Is it ok) | Potential Sources | |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 80ppb | n/a | 6.18 ppb | 2025 | Yes | By-product of drinking water chlorination |
| Haloacetic Acid (HAA5) | 60ppb | n/a | .8 ppb | 2025 | Yes | By-product of drinking water chlorination |
| ND=Non Detection | pCi/l= Picocuries per liter | |||||
| As shown in Table 1, lead and copper levels at the 90th percentile were below their respective | ||||||
| action levels, and no sites exceeded regulatory limits in copper, but 1 exceded limits in Lead. | ||||||
What else do you sample for?
The contaminants detected in our drinking water are summarized in Table 1 below. These results represent monitoring conducted during the 2025 calendar year or the most recent data available in compliance with regulatory requirements.
Will people with special needs be affected?
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons, such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants, can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate measures to reduce the risk of infection from cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Important Information on Lead
Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Heppner is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components.
You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family’s risk. Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes.
If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact City Hall at (541) 676-9618. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Service Line Inventory Update
The City of Heppner completed a service line inventory in October 2024 in accordance with EPA requirements. Due to system size and regulatory requirements, a representative portion of service lines was evaluated using historical records, field inspections, and construction data.
This inventory provides an overall assessment of materials within the distribution system, but may not identify the material of every individual service line.
Customers may contact City Hall at (541) 676-9618 for general information about the service line inventory or to learn more about how service line materials were determined.
Closing
Thank you for allowing The City of Heppner to continue to provide your family with safe drinking water each year. To maintain a high level of service, we sometimes need to make improvements that benefit you, the consumer. Again, we at the City of Heppner are always working around the clock to provide the best quality of service to every tap. We would like to ask all of you, the consumers, to help protect our water sources, which are the heart of this beautiful little city, our way of life, and our children’s future.