01The verdict: is Rhododendron water safe?
Rhododendron's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of B (75.5/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 980 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
7 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 4.1 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓4 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 ↓Rhododendron's drinking water received a grade of B (75.5 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 980 residents using surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 4.1 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 166 violations on record, including 4 health-based violations. 7 remain unresolved.
Rhododendron ranks #68 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. Hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) was detected at 0.76 µg/L in UCMR 3 testing. While below California's 10 µg/L limit and with no federal MCL set, residents sensitive to this contaminant may consider reverse osmosis filtration. As a small community water system, Rhododendron may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Rhododendron's water
Every contaminant flagged in Rhododendron, 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.
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. | 4.1 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
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
03Rhododendron'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 166 violations on record, including 4 health-based violations. 7 remain unresolved.
6 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 0.13 ppb since 1994. Latest reading: 4.1 ppb (2025) — 28% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Rhododendron's water comes from
Rhododendron'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 private ownership.
980 people
Residents served across Rhododendron'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 private ownership and serves approximately 980 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHODODENDRON WTR ASSOC | OR4100702 | 980 | Surface Water |
Water bodies near Rhododendron
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Rhododendron's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Rhododendron'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
5 federal disaster declarations on record for Clackamas County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Clackamas County is in D1 (moderate 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 Rhododendron compares
Scores for nearby Oregon cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Oregon average (42/100)
Rhododendron scores 75.5/100 — above the Oregon average of 42/100. It outscores 10 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 Rhododendron's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Rhododendron's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
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 Rhododendron 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 Rhododendron, OR tap water safe to drink?
Rhododendron's water quality earned a grade of B (75.5/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #68 out of 213 cities tested in Oregon.
What contaminants are in Rhododendron's water?
Lead was measured at 4.1 ppb (90th percentile). 166 violations are on record.
How is Rhododendron'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 Rhododendron?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Rhododendron's water come from?
Rhododendron's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 980 residents.
What health violations has Rhododendron's water system had?
Rhododendron has 4 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in January 2024. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 7 violations remain unresolved.
How does Rhododendron's water compare to other cities?
Rhododendron ranks #68 out of 213 cities in Oregon (better than 68% of state cities) and #9461 out of 15382 cities nationally (39th percentile). The grade of B reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Rhododendron's small water system affect quality?
Rhododendron's system serves approximately 980 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 166 violations on record.