Monitoring Violations OR

City of Hermiston

EPA ID: OR4100372 · 20,000 people served · 1 ZIP code

Five years tracked: City of Hermiston had 17 violations, all cleared, 20,000 served.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 75
Avg Safety Score
20,000
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
17
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.003 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
7
Contaminants Flagged
$274K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Hermiston Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$76,032
Median Household Income
27,979
Service Area Population
53%
Disadvantaged Population
70th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
49%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Hermiston serves a community with a median household income of $76,032 and an estimated 27,979 residents across its service area. Approximately 49% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 53% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

City of Hermiston's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
10th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
40th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Umatilla County, Oregon rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

43 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
27 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 61% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Hermiston compares to EPA limits

PFNA 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.00001 mg/L
Lead 1 mg/L (action level) (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level)
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults

What This Means For You

PFNA at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.00001 mg/L.

Lead at 1 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 8 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Total Coliform at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

Contaminant 3028 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 5 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

State limits: PFOA: 0.03 ppt, PFOS: 0.03 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Oregon

0 violations
City of Sherwood
19,885 people
B 5 violations
City of Central Point
19,785 people
B 5 violations
City of Lincoln City
20,830 people
B 27 violations
Ashland Water Department
20,946 people
A 12 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,800
PFAS Treatment $600
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,800

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,665
10 years
$15,330
20 years
$30,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,800 (one-time) vs. $15,330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

City of Hermiston, (EPA ID: OR4100372) is a community water system in Oregon that serves approximately 20,000 people from surface water sources.

This system serves ZIP code 97838 in Hermiston.

Average Home Safety Score: B (75/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

17 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
May 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
March 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
December 25, 2023 Total Coliform Monitoring Resolved
October 1, 2023 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
October 1, 2023 PFNA Monitoring Resolved
September 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Lead Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 8 No
Total Coliform Microbiological 2 No
Contaminant 3028 Other Violation 2 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Lead Inorganic 1 No
PFNA PFAS 1 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
97838 0.003 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by OR or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Hermiston (OR4100372) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Hermiston water safe to drink?

City of Hermiston has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does City of Hermiston serve?

City of Hermiston serves approximately 20,000 people across 1 ZIP code in Oregon.

Where does City of Hermiston get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
316
Detections
17
Latest sample
6/10/2024
Highest analyte
PFHxS: 12 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFHxS 12 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFOS 12 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFBS 10 ppt
PFPeA 4.2 ppt
PFHxA 3.9 ppt

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
5,662
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 20,000
Reported to Oregon

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Hermiston safe to drink?
City of Hermiston earns a B safety grade with 17 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in City of Hermiston's water?
Detected contaminants include PFNA, Lead, Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Total Coliform. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does City of Hermiston serve?
City of Hermiston serves approximately 20,000 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is City of Hermiston's water source?
City of Hermiston draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Hermiston's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.003 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Hermiston's service area?
The City of Hermiston service area has a median household income of $76,032. EPA EJScreen data classifies 53% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Hermiston get its water?
City of Hermiston's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

City of Hermiston (EPA ID: OR4100372) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems Oregon City of Hermiston

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