01The verdict: is Lowell water safe?
Lowell's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of B- (71.4/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,264 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
Lead is over its legal limit
Measured at 17.8 ppb against the EPA Action Level of 15 ppb. The ledger below shows how far over — and which filter removes it.
See the measurement ↓Monitoring is on schedule
The system is meeting its EPA monitoring and reporting requirements — testing is happening when it should.
See the score ↓8 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Lowell's drinking water received a grade of B- (71.4 out of 100), indicating fair water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,264 residents using surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 17.8 ppb (90th percentile), which exceeds the EPA action level of 15 ppb. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 72 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
Lowell ranks #78 out of 213 cities in Oregon for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Lead levels exceed the EPA action level of 15 ppb, which typically indicates aging lead service lines or lead solder in the distribution system. An NSF 53-certified filter is strongly recommended for drinking and cooking water. As a small community water system, Lowell may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 8 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Lowell's water
Every contaminant flagged in Lowell, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Over Limit — EPA Action Level: 15 ppb
Exceeds the EPA action level. Lead enters at the service line, not the treatment plant — your address matters more than the city average. Lead service line replacement and an NSF 53-certified point-of-use filter are recommended.Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 17.8 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Over Limit |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Oregon
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Oregon
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Lowell's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 72 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
7 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▲ Up 3.1 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 5.1 ppb (2025) — 34% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Lowell's water comes from
Lowell's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Local treatment
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
1,264 people
Residents served across Lowell's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,264 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOWELL, CITY OF | OR4100492 | 1,264 | Surface Water |
Water bodies near Lowell
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Lowell's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Lowell's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
7 federal disaster declarations on record for Lane County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Lane County is in D3 (extreme drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Lowell compares
Scores for nearby Oregon cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Oregon average (42/100)
Lowell scores 71.4/100 — above the Oregon average of 42/100. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities. Full Oregon rankings →
39.4 / 100FBeaverton, OR
40.7 / 100FSalem, OR
43.6 / 100FEugene, OR
28 / 100FBend, OR
41 / 100FMedford, OR
29.4 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Lowell's water — not generic advice.
Filter drinking & cooking water
NSF 53-certified pitcher or under-sink filter. Lead level (17.8 ppb) exceeds the EPA action level of 15 ppb
Compare tested filters →Flush taps & check your service line
Lead leaches from pipes as water sits. Run cold water 30 seconds before drinking (especially mornings), and ask the utility whether your address still has a lead service line.
Lead risks explained →Watch for Lowell alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Lowell, OR tap water safe to drink?
Lowell's water quality earned a grade of B- (71.4/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #78 out of 213 cities tested in Oregon.
What contaminants are in Lowell's water?
Lead was measured at 17.8 ppb (90th percentile). 72 violations are on record.
How is Lowell's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Lowell?
Yes — lead levels exceed the EPA action level of 15 ppb. We recommend an NSF 53-certified filter or reverse osmosis system. Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Lowell's water come from?
Lowell's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,264 residents.
How does Lowell's water compare to other cities?
Lowell ranks #78 out of 213 cities in Oregon (better than 63% of state cities) and #10414 out of 15382 cities nationally (32th percentile). The grade of B- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Lowell's small water system affect quality?
Lowell's system serves approximately 1,264 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 72 violations on record.