COUNTY REPORT OR

Malheur County, Oregon

9 ZIP codes · Avg score 65/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Covering 9 ZIP codes, Malheur County falls in the average tier for tap water safety — violations appear in a meaningful share of areas, and the data suggests quality depends heavily on which specific part of the county a household sits in.

How Malheur County Compares

Malheur County65/100
Oregon avg78/100
National avg68/100

How Malheur County Compares

C
County Grade
65/100
Avg Safety Score
9
ZIP Codes
6
Water Systems

Malheur County scores 13 points below the Oregon state average (78/100) and 3 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
65
Avg Safety Score
9
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 97910 (80/100)
Lowest ZIP: 97901 (50/100)
$241K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Avg Remediation (50% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Malheur County, Oregon

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 14.6 (asthma 11.8%, diabetes 14%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,273, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.407% avg pipe failure probability, 44% of ZIPs at high risk

70.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Malheur County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
3 (3 health)
2024
1 (1 health)
2025
7 (7 health)

Peak year: 2025 with 7 violations. Past 5 years: 11 total (11 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 40.9% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1964
Median Build Year
70.8%
Pre-1978 Housing
41%
Pipe Failure Probability
44%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,273

Energy Code Gap $540/yr
Wildfire $300/yr
Water / Lead $233/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

11,535 housing units in Malheur County

Pre-1940 11%
1940–1959 21%
1960–1979 34%
1980–1999 24%
2000+ 10%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Malheur County

$241K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Est. Remediation Cost
0.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Malheur County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Malheur County residents

Asthma 11.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 40.9% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Malheur County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 City of Adrian, 159 28
2 City of Nyssa, 3,285 12
3 City of Ontario, 14,465 12
4 JORDAN VALLEY, CITY OF 175 6
5 VALE, CITY OF 1,837 6

6 total water systems serve Malheur County.

All ZIP Codes in Malheur County

9 ZIP codes tracked in Malheur County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 97910 Jordan Valley 80 B 6 $190K
2 97913 Nyssa 79 B 6 $197K
3 97914 Ontario 72 B 6 $221K
4 97918 Vale 68 C 6 $241K
5 97906 Harper 63 C 0 $288K
6 97920 Westfall 63 C 0
7 97710 Fields 53 D 0 $241K
8 97902 Arock 53 D 0
9 97901 Adrian 50 D 28 (11 health) $443K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Malheur County

Editorial-only picks, screened against the EPA detections on file.

Overview

Malheur County in Oregon covers 9 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (65/100).

5 of 9 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 11 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Oregon water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Malheur County?
Malheur County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Malheur County?
Malheur County is served by 6 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 9 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Malheur County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Malheur County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,273 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Malheur County?
The median home build year in Malheur County is 1964. 70.8% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Malheur County compare to Oregon?
Malheur County has an average water safety score of 65/100, which is below the Oregon state average of 78/100.

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