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Oregon State Agencies States have the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of public water supplies within their borders. Each state develops a system to administer programs that have been enacted by Federal legislation. In Oregon, water quality issues are addressed by three state agencies; the Departments of Agriculture, Environmental Quality, and Human Services. State Department of Agriculture Among the many goals of the Oregon Department of Agriculture is protection of the state’s natural resource base. Water is a crucial resource and is carefully protected through several programs administered by the Natural Resources Division. Natural Resources Division With a mission to conserve, protect, and develop natural resources on public and private lands, this Division promotes the viability of agriculture as a source of revenue within the state. Within its primary program areas, water quality, confined animal feeding operations (CAFO), and soil & water conservation districts (SWCD) relate directly to water protection issues. Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO). Beginning in the early 1980s, CAFOs have been required to register with a Water Pollution Control Facility. The permit program was developed to assist operators with managing their facility’s waste to protect water quality while allowing the operation to remain economically viable. Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD). In Oregon, the Natural Resources Division provides support to 45 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). Landowners are provided with technical assistance to identify and implement conservation measures that protect and improve water quality. Much of the Conservation District’s work involves matching government assistance with local needs and encouraging land managers to use conservation practices. Water Quality Division. The Department of Agriculture’s Water Quality Division generates pollution prevention and control programs to protect the quality of Oregon's waters. This program was created to address requirements under various state and federal laws, such as the Clean Water Act, and various bills passed by the Oregon legislature. Oregon Department of Agriculture links Oregon Association of Conservation Districts (OACD)
www.oacd.org Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Each state has its own agency to address environmental concerns. In Oregon, the DEQ is responsible for protecting and enhancing Oregon’s water and air quality, for cleaning up spills and releases of hazardous materials, and for managing disposal of wastes. The DEQ also has authority to operate federal environmental programs within the state, such as the Clean Water and Resource Conservation and Recovery Acts (CWA and RCRA). See Federal Agencies page for more information about CWA and RCRA.Water Quality Division
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits are required for stormwater discharges that leave a site through a "point source" and reach surface waters either directly or through storm drainage. A point source is a natural or human-made conveyance of water through pipes, culverts, ditches, or any other type of channel. Water Pollution Control Facilities (WPCF) permits. The primary purpose of a WPCF permit is to prevent discharges to surface waters and to protect groundwater from contamination. Permits are issued for land irrigation with wastewater, wastewater lagoons, and onsite sewage disposal systems or for any discharge of wastewater to the ground; discharge to surface water is not allowed. This permit is also used to prevent nuisance conditions such as odors and mosquitoes.
Telephone: (503) 229-5696 Department of Human Services (DHS) As the largest department in state government, the Department of Human Services has a mission of "helping people to become independent, healthy and safe." Five strategies aimed at accomplishing these goals include helping low-income families achieve self-sufficiency, protecting vulnerable Oregonians from abuse and neglect, helping low-income families obtain needed health care, assisting seniors and people with disabilities live as independently as possible, and protecting public health.
As part of its public health protection goal, DHS administers the Drinking Water Program to assure safe drinking water for Oregon residents. The program focuses resources on the areas of highest public health benefit and promotes voluntary compliance with drinking water standards. The Drinking Water Program goals include the following:
The Drinking Water Advisory Committee (DWAC) was formed in 1981 to assist in the development of new regulations and to advise Health Services on drinking water. Its membership represents a broad base of organizations with interests in drinking water. Groundwater Protection Program was developed in Oregon to help communities identify their groundwater sources and develop management strategies to protect the resource. Loads of information is available on the DHS website including pages devoted to:
Contact the Oregon State DHS Drinking Water Program at: Water Resources Department The vision of the Water Resources Department is to assure sufficient and sustainable water supplies are available to meet current and future needs. The Department's mission is to serve the public by practicing and promoting responsible water management through two key goals:
By law, all surface and ground water in Oregon belongs to the public. The Water Resources Department is the state agency charged with administration of the laws governing surface and ground water resources. The Department's core functions are to protect existing water rights, facilitate voluntary streamflow restoration, increase the understanding of the demands on the state's water resources, provide accurate and accessible water resource data, and facilitate water supply solutions. Watershed Enhancement Board The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) is a state agency led by a policy oversight board tasked to maintain healthy watersheds and natural habitats that support thriving communities and strong economies. OWEB's programs support Oregon's efforts to restore salmon runs, improve water quality, and strengthen ecosystems that are critical to healthy watersheds and sustainable communities. OWEB administers a grant program funded by the Oregon Lottery to support efforts by Oregonians seeking to create and maintain healthy watersheds. Resources Special Districts Association of Oregon (SDAO)
www.sdao.com
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