CCR

Springfield gets its drinking water supply from plentiful, high-quality sources in and around the City. The majority comes from 27 SUB wells and several additional wells owned by Rainbow Water District. These wells tap the aquifer, a vast underground formation of water-bearing sands and gravel beneath our community. The remainder of Springfield’s drinking water comes from the Middle Fork Willamette River and is treated through our Slow Sand Filtration Plant. A new treatment plant on the McKenzie River will come online within the next decade.

Protecting the drinking water supply at its source is a top priority for SUB. We work with the City of Springfield, Rainbow Water District, and other organizations and community members to implement the strategies in our state-certified Springfield Drinking Water Protection Plan. The state Department of Environmental Quality has provided supplemental information in its Updated Source Water Assessment, which further evaluates risks to groundwater and surface water and supplements the Springfield Drinking Water Protection Plan. For more information, contact SUB’s Water Resources Administrator at 541-744-3745.

Information from the EPA on contaminants in drinking water

Drinking water (even bottled water) may contain small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. For more information about contaminants and the potential health effects, call the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. About three quarters of Springfield’s drinking water is provided by groundwater wells and the other one quarter is provided by a blend of river and well water that is filtered.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
• Inorganics, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

• Microbial, such as viruses, and bacteria which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

Health information for people with special health needs

To ensure safe drinking water, EPA regulates the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration establishes limits for contaminants in bottled water to provide the same protection for public health.

Some people may be more vulnerable than others to contaminants in drinking water. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons having undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, infants and some elderly people can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

This chart lists all regulated detections in water sampled as part of SUB’s water quality program. If a known health-related contaminant is not listed, it was not detected. In 2025, your water met, and in many cases exceeded, all state and federal requirements.

(For a key to abbreviations and terminology used in this table and testing notes, see page 8)

*The State allows water systems to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.

A key to abbreviations and terminology in this document:

• AL or ACTION LEVELS: Concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or
  other requirements a water system must follow.
• CONTAMINANT: Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water.
• Federal Limit or MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below
  which there is no known or expected risk to health, as set by the Environmental Protection Agency (MCLGs allow for a margin of safety).
• Federal Goal or MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL GOAL: The highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set by the Environmental Protection Agency to be as close to the MCLG as
  feasible using the best available treatment technology.
• HERBICIDE: Any chemical(s) used to control undesirable vegetation.
• LRAA or Locational Running Annual Average: The continual running average from each previous sample site.
• MRDL or Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level: The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking
  water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial
  contaminants.
• MRDLG or Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below
  which there is no known or expected risk to health.
• MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
• N/A: Not applicable.
• ND: Not detected.
• NSF or National Sanitation Foundation 61 Standard: Coatings are commonly used materials in potable water applications to protect storage tanks from corrosion. The NSF 61 standard certification of coating products ensures that this product will not impart harmful levels of contaminants into drinking water.
• NTU or NEPHELOMETRIC TURBIDITY UNITS: Units of measure for turbidity.
• pCi/L: Picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)
• PESTICIDE: Generally, any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying,
  repelling, or mitigating any pest.
• PPB or PARTS PER BILLION: One pound of contaminant per billion pounds of water.
• PPM or PARTS PER MILLION: One pound of contaminant per million pounds of water.
• PPT or PARTS PER TRILLION: One pound of contaminant per million pounds of water.
• RAA or Running Annual Average: Computed using monthly or quarterly results and is a value used for
  compliance.
• RWD: Rainbow Water District, a wholesale water provider.
• TT or TREATMENT TECHNIQUE: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in
  drinking water.
• TURBIDITY: A measure of the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles.
• UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS: Contaminants that don’t yet have a drinking water standard set by
  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The purpose of monitoring these is to help EPA decide whether the contaminants should have a standard.
• UCMR: Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule
  (see page 7)

SUB has tested its source water and water from its distribution system for lead. No lead has been detected in water delivered to SUB customers. That means the water coming into your home meets the most rigorous standards.

Lead and copper sampling at high-risk residential water taps

SUB samples the taps of homes considered high-risk for lead and copper based on the age of the home. Per state requirements, we sample once every three years. Our last samples were taken in 2024. The results are summarized in the table below.

T AL for copper is exceeded if 10% or more of homes test above 1.35 ppm

❖ AL for lead is exceeded if 10% or more of homes test above 15 ppb

For a key to abbreviations and terminology used in this table and testing notes, see page 8

How can lead get into drinking water?

Some older homes may have plumbing fixtures that contain lead and that can leach into drinking water. In particular, homes built before 1986 may have copper pipes with lead solder. When water stands for several hours in plumbing systems that contain lead, the lead can dissolve into drinking water. SUB helps proactively prevent this by optimizing the pH of the drinking water we deliver to help prevent lead from leaching out of older household plumbing fixtures.

What are the health effects of 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. SUB is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components in your home. 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. You can also use a filter certified
by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, visit subutil.com/water/. 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

What can homeowners do to reduce possible exposure?

• Run water from your tap before using it. If water hasn’t been used for many hours, flush the cold tap for at least 30 seconds or until the water runs colder.

• Use only cold water for cooking, drinking and preparing baby formula. Lead from plumbing fixtures dissolves more easily into hot water.

• Regularly clean your faucet aerators. Lead particles can become trapped there.

• Consider buying low-lead faucets. As of January 2014, all pipes, fittings and fixtures are required to contain less than 0.25% lead.

• Consider investing in a water filter. Before buying, confirm the filter reduces lead – not all do. And remember that contaminants can collect in filters if not properly maintained, so follow your filter’s instructions carefully.

See SUB’s website at subutil.com/water for more information. SUB has a new online tool that provides public access to the results of SUB’s water service line inventory. Most importantly, the results showed there were no lead service lines found. The absence of lead service lines in SUB’s service area is yet another reason for SUB’s high-quality drinking water. The public can access this tool to determine the type of service line materials that are installed at a specific location. More information about the methodology SUB used to complete the service line inventory is also available.

Additional Water Quality Testing

As part of the Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule (UCMR), the EPA began studying the prevalence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) several years ago. PFAS are a group of chemicals that have been in widespread production globally since the 1940s and have been used in common products like nonstick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics, as well as in firefighting foams. As a class, these compounds break down slowly and can therefore persist in the environment.

In communities where PFAS have become a concern for drinking water, problems are often associated with a specific facility — for example, a military base where firefighting training occurs or a factory where PFAS are produced. While Springfield does not have these types of facilities, because of the pervasive nature of these chemicals and out of an abundance of caution, in 2019, SUB began voluntarily sampling for PFAS. In 2025, we monitored for 29 PFAS using analytical methods that can detect a broad range of PFAS at extremely low concentrations. Samples were taken at all five entry points, which is where treated water enters the distribution system. (see results in the table below).

SUB is closely monitoring new developments in PFAS regulations and will work with Oregon Health Authority to ensure that we continue to provide safe, high-quality water to our customers. Please visit SUB’s PFAS Information Page at subutil.com for general information about PFAS and to learn about actions SUB has taken to address PFAS and keep your water safe and of the highest standard for water quality.

What are Unregulated Contaminants?

EPA has drinking water regulations for more than 90 contaminants. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) includes a process that EPA must follow to identify and list unregulated contaminants, which are those that don’t yet have a drinking water standard set by EPA. This process may lead to development of a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR). The purpose of monitoring these contaminants is to help EPA decide whether they should have a standard.

[Water samples from I-5 Wellfield had detection levels of 4.8 (ND - 9.5) ppb for Lithium. Water samples from 5th and Moffitt intertie had low detection levels for PFOA and PFOS that ranged from 1.3(ND to 5.3) ppt and 1.5(ND - 9.5) ppt, respectively, PFHxA 1.5(ND - 3.2), PFPeA 0.7(ND - 2.8) and PFBS 0.95(ND 3.8) ppt.]

* Results are displayed as “Average (Range).” For example, 3.5 (ND - 6.3) indicates an average of 3.5, with a range of ND - 6.3.

For a key to abbreviations and terminology used in this table and testing notes, see page 8

Note on storage tank upgrades

As part of an ongoing seismic resiliency upgrade project, SUB replaced an existing storage tank with two new seismically-resilient water storage tanks. The first new tank was brought online in 2023. In 2024, the existing tank was demolished and the second new tank constructed. The interior of the new tanks is protected
with a corrosion-inhibiting coating that meets the national standards for drinking water materials. Although not required, SUB monitors new tanks for 69 volatile organic compounds. These water quality tests have confirmed adherence to the national drinking water standards for coating materials.