Is Happy Valley, OR tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

Portland Water Bureau has 1 unresolved health-based violation on record.

Is it an emergency? No: these findings are about longer-term exposure, and nothing in EPA's data calls for you to stop drinking the water today. If your utility issues a boil-water or do-not-drink notice, follow it.

5 public water systems serve parts of Happy Valley. The largest, Portland Water Bureau, serves 666,200 people, and one system here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Portland Water Bureau

666,200 people · Surface water · EPA ID OR4100657

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

Lead: 5.01 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 1

Full Portland Water Bureau results

Across Oregon, 9 of 123 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 16 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Oregon results.

Happy Valley homes and lead pipes

12%

of homes built before 1980 (Oregon 49%, US 50%)

built before 1950 (Oregon 16%)

21%

of households rent (Oregon 37%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Portland Water Bureau's service line inventory lists 0 lead lines and 0 galvanized lines that need replacing (as of 2024-09-20). Look up your address. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Happy Valley city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Which system serves your ZIP code

Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.

System	ZIP codes in Happy Valley
Portland Water Bureau 666,200 people	97086
Sunrise Water Authority 50,003 people	97015

Other water systems serving Happy Valley

Sunrise Water Authority
50,003 people · Purchased surface water · Oregon · reported ZIPs here
PFOS above limitAlso: Lithium above screening level
Clackamas River Water
29,918 people · Surface water · Oregon · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits
Clackamas River Water – Clairmont
19,928 people · Purchased surface water · Oregon · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits
Riverbend Mobile Home Park Water System
600 people · Groundwater · Oregon · reported ZIPs here
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Gresham 6 mi Portland Water Bureau	Portland Water Bureau	None above limits	5.01 ppb
Oregon City 8 mi Oregon City Water System	Oregon City Water System	None above limits	1.84 ppb
West Linn 8 mi City of West Linn	City of West Linn	None above limits	1.84 ppb
Lake Oswego 9 mi Portland Water Bureau	Portland Water Bureau	None above limits	5.01 ppb
Portland 10 mi Portland Water Bureau	Portland Water Bureau	None above limits	5.01 ppb
Tigard 13 mi Portland Water Bureau	Portland Water Bureau	None above limits	5.01 ppb

Questions

Is Happy Valley tap water safe to drink?

Portland Water Bureau had 1 health-based violation since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Happy Valley, OR?

5 public water systems serve parts of Happy Valley. The largest is Portland Water Bureau (666,200 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Happy Valley tap water have PFAS?

None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Portland Water Bureau had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.

Do Happy Valley homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 12% of Happy Valley homes as built before 1980 (Oregon: 49%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Portland Water Bureau's service line inventory lists 0 lead lines. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.