Oregon DEQ Nitrate Screening Informs Oregonians About Groundwater Pollution

Groundwater is essential to the economic viability and livability of many Oregon communities. It is a source for municipal, commercial and individual drinking water supplies, irrigation water for agriculture, and many other uses. It provides drinking water for over 70 percent of Oregon’s residents through public drinking water supply systems and private wells. More than 600,000 Oregonians get their drinking water from individual private water wells.

Groundwater also influences the quality of many Oregon rivers and streams. Especially during the dry summer months, groundwater inflows affect stream flow, chemistry and temperature, which in turn determine the quality of surface waters used for drinking water, irrigation and recreation. High-quality inflows of groundwater are essential for maintaining coldwater fisheries in many streams.