Annual Consumer Confidence Report

2025 Water Quality Report

McMinnville Water & Light (MW&L) is pleased to provide you with our 2025 Consumer Confidence Report. This report provides important information about McMinnville’s water system and drinking water, including a summary of water quality tests performed. We are happy to report that your drinking water continues to meet and exceed all State and Federal health standards. For more information about this report, or for any questions related to your drinking water, please contact Ryan Sticka, Water Superintendent at (503) 472-6158 or submit this form.

Since 1889, MW&L has been committed to providing our customers with clean, safe drinking water at an excellent value. We understand that this vital resource is essential to our community’s overall quality of life. A reliable source of drinking water and a resilient water system are necessary to protect public health, provide fire protection, and support continued community development and economic growth.

MW&L’s watershed and source water supply are located in the Coast Mountain Range northwest of McMinnville. Protecting our watershed and water resources is our primary objective, which is why the watershed (approximately 6,350 acres) owned by MW&L is closed to the public. Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, off-road vehicles, or any other recreational activity in the watershed is strictly prohibited and any unauthorized entry is subject to legal action.

Water Source

The source of your drinking water is precipitation impounded in McGuire and Haskins Reservoirs. This water is treated at the Norman Scott Water Treatment Plant, which operates 24 hours a day/365 days per year, and has the capacity to treat up to 22 million gallons of water per day. After treatment, the water flows 10 miles through two large water transmission mains into four water storage reservoirs located west of the city. From here, the water flows through approximately 156 miles of water distribution mains to supply the City of McMinnville with an abundant supply of high quality drinking water.

Water Safety

Water Quality

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations that limit the number of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, both tap and bottled, originate from sources such as rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals. In some regions, water may even pick up substances resulting from the presence of radioactive material, animals, or human activity. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater.

Contaminant Sources

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

Microbial Contaminants – viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic Contaminants – salts and metals that can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
Pesticides and Herbicides – may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
Organic Chemical Contaminants – synthetic and volatile organic chemicals that are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
Radioactive Contaminants – can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

Lead Educational Statement

Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. McMinnville Water & Light is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes within MW&L’s water system, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components in your home. You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family’s risk. Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact MW&L at (503) 472-6158. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Contaminant Health Effect Statement

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.

Lead Service Line Inventory

In December 2021 the Environmental Protection Agency finalized revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule. This update requires that community water systems develop a water service line inventory, which will identify lead service line materials in the water system. This inventory is part of the EPA’s broader plan to work with federal, state, and local governments to replace lead pipes to protect communities from exposure to lead in drinking water. MW&L has completed the Water Service Line Inventory and confirmed there are no lead service lines in the water system. This achievement meets the deadline set by the EPA, which required public water systems to document the materials that make up both public and private service lines.

The following methodologies were used to identify the pipe material in MW&L’s water system:

Previous knowledge of pipe material – There are no known lead service lines in MW&L’s water system.

Installation date – Any service lines installed after January 1, 1986 are non-lead.

Customer data – Customers determined the material by plumbing records, visual inspections, or performing scratch/ magnet tests. If a customer responded that their pipe material was lead, MW&L staff performed a physical inspection. There were no lead service lines identified.

Statistical Analysis – MW&L staff physically inspected a random sampling of a portion of the remaining unknown service lines. Following the statistical guidance provided by OHA, all remaining unknown service lines were categorized as non-lead.

To view the inventory, go to https://yourwater.oregon.gov/leadcopper.php?pwsno=00497 click on the service lines tab.

2025 Water Quality

Testing & Sampling

McMinnville Water & Light tests your drinking water every day to monitor water quality and maximize water treatment operational processes. To ensure that your drinking water meets the more than 120 water quality standards set by the EPA and the State of Oregon, we collect hundreds of water samples per year, which are sent to an EPA-approved lab to test for over 90 contaminants. The table on page 6 lists the substances that were detected in water quality testing for 2025. All detections listed are well below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set by the EPA and the State of Oregon. For a complete list of all test results, go to the Oregon Drinking Water website at https://yourwater.oregon.gov/inventory.php?pwsno=00497.

Notice to Immuno-Compromised Persons

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. EPA/ CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791.

Award-Winning Water

McMinnville Water & Light’s drinking water has won several awards for “Best Tasting Water” placing 1st in 2011, 2015, 2017, 2023 and 2024 in the AWWA Northwest Oregon Subsection. McMinnville Water & Light’s water system has been designated as an “Outstanding Performer” by the State of Oregon Drinking Water Program.

Water Quality Table

2025 Test Results

Other Water Quality Testing in 2025 with test results of NONE DETECTED

Lithium: Naturally occurring alkali metal found in rocks and soil that can dissolve into groundwater and surface water, eventually entering drinking water supplies. Required testing under EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) was conducted from February 2025 through November 2025. The test results of all 4 samples was NONE DETECTED.

PFAS: Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water are man-made “forever chemicals” that do not break down, often originating from industrial sites, fire fighting foams, and landfills. Required testing under EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR 5) was conducted from February 2025 through November 2025. The test results of all 4 samples was NONE DETECTED.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): VOCs are manmade chemical compounds such as cleaning fluids, degreasers and plastics. Samples taken in 2025 were tested for 21 different VOCs and the results were NONE DETECTED.

Definitions

AL or Action Level – The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
Coliform Bacteria – Coliform bacteria are an “indicator” organism common in the environment and in all warm[1]blooded animals and humans. While generally not harmful, the presence of these bacteria in drinking water indicates that the water may be contaminated with other disease-causing organisms.
Clearwell – Structure to store treated drinking water prior to entering the Distribution System.
MCL or Maximum Contaminant Level – The highest level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
MCLG or Maximum Contaminant Level Goal – The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
MFL – Million Fibers per Liter. MRDL or Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level – The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that the addition of a disinfectant is necessary for the control of microbial contaminants.
MRDLG or Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal – The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
N/A – Not Applicable.
NTU – Nephelometric Turbidity Units. A measurement of the cloudiness of water.
ppb – parts per billion.
ppm – parts per million.
TT or Treatment Technique – A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Turbidity – Turbidity is a measure of the water’s clarity. High turbidity results from suspended soil and organic matter in the water. Turbidity is monitored because it provides a good indicator of the filtration system’s effectiveness.
WTP – Water Treatment Plant

Home Water Leak Detection

Check your water meter

One of the best ways to tell if you have a leak in your plumbing is to check the water meter. To do this, turn off all the water in and outside your home. Ensure there are no fixtures on that use water. Next, watch the meter and see if the leak indicator has movement. If it does, you likely have a leak. If the meter doesn’t change immediately, wait two hours and check to see if the numbers have changed on the dial. If so, this may indicate a slower leak.

Look at your usage

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends checking your winter water usage to find out if a leak is occurring somewhere in your home. If a family of four is using more than 12,000 gallons (1,600 cubic feet) of water per month, there’s probably a leak problem somewhere in the plumbing system.

Monitor your bill

If your bill is rising consistently but your water use habits haven’t changed, a leak may be to blame. Gather some bills from the past few months and compare them to see if there’s a steady increase. Your water bill should remain within the same range month to month.

Check for toilet leaks

Toilets can account for up to 30 percent of your water use, so you should check to ensure they’re running properly. To test for leaks, add a few drops of food coloring to your toilet tank and wait 10 minutes. If the color shows up in your bowl, then you have a leak allowing water to flow from the tank to your drain without ever flushing the bowl.

Community Participation

McMinnville Water & Light invites interested citizens to attend scheduled commission meetings. Dates and times of commission meetings are published monthly in the Government Calendar section of the News-Register, as well as on our website as www.mc-power.com.

EN ESPAÑOL: Este Informe contiene informacion muy importante. Traduscalo o hable con unamigo quien lo entienda bien.

The 2025 Annual Water Quality Report is available to download as a pdf below.

Source Water Assessment

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) completed a Source Water Assessment Report for McMinnville as required by the Federal Safe Water Drinking Act for the purpose of identifying potential sources of contamination to source water used for drinking water.

The full report is available at www.oregon.gov/deq/wq/dwp/Pages/DWPAssessments.aspx.

Contact Us

Customer Service | (503) 472-6158
Payment Arrangements | (503) 434-9778
Engineering Services | (503) 472-6919
One call locates | 811

855 NE Marsh Lane | P.O. Box 638
McMinnville, OR 97128
www.mc-power.com

Kim Morris, Mayor
Denny Elmer, Commission Chair
Adam Garvin, Commissioner
Lisa Macy-Baker, Commissioner
Jon Johnson, Commissioner
John Dietz, General Manager
James Burke, Engineering & Operations Director
Ryan Sticka, Water Superintendent