Bend, OR Water Quality Report

Is Bend tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Bend, Oregon. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Bend tap water safe to drink? Bend tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 14.54 ppt across 5 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Bend water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Bend water: lithium (47 ppt), PFOA (0.01 ppt), PFPeA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Bend? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Bend Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Bend drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 47 ppt across 3 water systems, representing an average of 14.54 ppt across 5 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.

Top Detected Compounds

  • lithium: 47 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFOA: 0.01 ppt
  • PFPeA: 0.01 ppt
  • PFHpA: 0 ppt
  • PFHxA: 0 ppt

Lead in Bend Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 166 lead samples for Bend water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.006 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

EPA Violations in Bend

Bend public water systems have 15 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Lead & Copper Rule, Selenium, Surface Water Treatment Rule, Total Coliform, Gross Alpha (excl. radon & uranium). Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Bend: approximately 102,059.

ZIP Codes Served

97701, 97702, 97703, 97707, 97708

What Bend Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually