The Environmental Protection Agency, a federal agency, has issued a mandate to all states that all water systems must inventory the piping material used in their water system to identify if there are any lead pipes in use. In the state of Oregon, OHA (Oregon Health Authority) is in charge of water systems.

Since April of 2023 Otter Rock Water District has been gathering data to identify the type of material used for the service lines that go from the main lines to each property in the district. There is no lead used in any of the pipes of the main distribution system. If any lead pipe is discovered in service lines, those lines will need to be replaced.

As of October 2024 we have completed the inventory for 64% of the properties that have a water connection within the district. The initial results of the survey were due by 10/16/2024 and have been submitted to OHA. The district expects to complete this inventory within the next year.

While we have not yet found any lead piping in our water district and we do not expect to find any, we are required to send a notice by mid-November to all of the sites yet to be inspected.