Community Water System · PWSID OR4100917

City of Vale

Serves 1,837 peopleGroundwaterOwner: Local GovernmentVale, Oregon
Nothing open right now.

On record since 1994: 87 violations. 41 over the limit · 29 missed or late tests · 17 notices or reports. Most recent began 2024-10-01.

For this year's test results, ask the utility for its annual Consumer Confidence Report. Every community system must publish one.

41Over the limit
0Treatment lapse
29Missed or late test
17Notice or report

More violations on record than 96% of active water systems in Oregon. Small systems with no staff chemist often rack up missed-test violations; big utilities rarely do.

The record, year by year

1994 · Missed or late test: 119952000200520102011 · Notice or report: 22012 · Over the limit: 22012 · Notice or report: 12013 · Over the limit: 42013 · Over the limit: 42014 · Over the limit: 42014 · Over the limit: 42014 · Notice or report: 12015 · Over the limit: 82015 · Over the limit: 82015 · Over the limit: 82015 · Missed or late test: 220152016 · Over the limit: 82016 · Over the limit: 82016 · Over the limit: 82016 · Missed or late test: 32016 · Notice or report: 22017 · Over the limit: 82017 · Over the limit: 82017 · Over the limit: 82017 · Missed or late test: 162017 · Missed or late test: 162017 · Missed or late test: 162017 · Missed or late test: 162017 · Missed or late test: 162017 · Missed or late test: 162017 · Notice or report: 62017 · Notice or report: 62018 · Over the limit: 72018 · Over the limit: 72018 · Over the limit: 72018 · Missed or late test: 12018 · Notice or report: 22020 · Missed or late test: 120202023 · Missed or late test: 12023 · Notice or report: 12024 · Missed or late test: 42024 · Missed or late test: 42024 · Notice or report: 22025
One square ≈ 3 violations (rounded up), by the year they began. Empty columns are years with nothing on EPA's record.
47% over the limit · 4133% missed or late test · 2920% notice or report · 17

Across Oregon, 85% of violations are missed or late tests and 2% are water over a limit.

How far over the limit

at the limit2×5×10×100×+Arsenic2018-10-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0120 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.2×)2018-07-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0130 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.3×)2018-07-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0180 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.8×)2018-04-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0130 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.3×)2018-04-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0180 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.8×)2018-01-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0170 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.7×)2018-01-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0120 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.2×)2017-10-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0170 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.7×)2017-10-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0120 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.2×)2017-07-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0170 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.7×)2017-07-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0120 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.2×)2017-04-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0170 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.7×)2017-04-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0120 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.2×)2017-01-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0130 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.3×)2017-01-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0130 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.3×)2016-10-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0140 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.4×)2016-10-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0120 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.2×)2016-07-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0140 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.4×)2016-07-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0140 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.4×)2016-04-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0150 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.5×)2016-04-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0120 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.2×)2016-01-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0170 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.7×)2016-01-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0150 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.5×)2015-10-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0150 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.5×)2015-10-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0170 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.7×)2015-07-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0150 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.5×)2015-07-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0170 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.7×)2015-04-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0170 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.7×)2015-04-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0160 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.6×)2015-01-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0120 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.2×)2015-01-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0170 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.7×)2014-10-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0150 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.5×)2014-07-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0150 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.5×)2014-04-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0120 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.2×)2014-01-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0110 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.1×)2013-10-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0120 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.2×)2013-07-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0110 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.1×)2013-04-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0110 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.1×)2013-01-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0130 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.3×)2012-10-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0120 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.2×)2012-04-01 · Arsenic: measured 0.0110 MG/L vs limit 0.0100 MG/L (1.1×)
Each dot is one over-the-limit violation: the measured value divided by the limit it broke, on a log scale. Most legal limits for chemicals are running averages set for a lifetime of drinking, so “just over” and “ten times over” are very different news. Hover a dot for the numbers.

Lead & copper at the tap

Utilities sample taps in homes most likely to have lead pipes, and report the 90th-percentile result: 9 in 10 homes sampled came in at or below this number. Above the red line (the action level) the utility must act. The action level is not a safe level; EPA's health goal for lead is zero. EPA's file does not date these results, so they are shown highest first.

Lead, 90th percentile 4 results on file · action level 15 ppb

7.4 ppb
4.1 ppb
2.9 ppb
1.8 ppb

Every violation on record

  1. 2024-10-01Consumer Confidence RuleCCR Inadequate ReportingBack in compliance
  2. 2024-07-01Consumer Confidence RuleCCR Complete Failure to ReportBack in compliance
  3. 2024-01-01Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)Period ended · no return to compliance on file
  4. 2024-01-01Trihalomethanes (TTHM)Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)Period ended · no return to compliance on file
  5. 2024-01-01Coliphage ×2Failure to Conduct Assessment MonitoringBack in compliance
  6. 2023-10-01Consumer Confidence RuleCCR Inadequate ReportingBack in compliance
  7. 2023-06-01Revised Total Coliform RuleMONBack in compliance
  8. 2020-04-01Revised Total Coliform RuleMONBack in compliance
  9. 2018-10-01ArsenicMCL, Averagemeasured 0.0120 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  10. 2018-07-01ArsenicMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  11. 2018-07-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0130 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  12. 2018-04-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0130 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  13. 2018-03-01Public Notice ×2PN Violation for NPDWR ViolationBack in compliance
  14. 2018-01-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0170 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  15. 2017-11-27Public Notice ×2PN Violation for NPDWR ViolationBack in compliance
  16. 2017-10-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0170 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  17. 2017-08-31Public Notice ×2PN Violation for NPDWR ViolationBack in compliance
  18. 2017-07-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0170 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  19. 2017-06-03Public Notice ×2PN Violation for NPDWR ViolationBack in compliance
  20. 2017-04-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0170 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  21. 2017-01-01EndrinMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  22. 2017-01-01Bhc-GammaMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  23. 2017-01-01MethoxychlorMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  24. 2017-01-01ToxapheneMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  25. 2017-01-01Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipateMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
Show the other 40 entries
  1. 2017-01-01SimazineMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  2. 2017-01-01Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalateMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  3. 2017-01-01HexachlorocyclopentadieneMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  4. 2017-01-01AtrazineMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  5. 2017-01-01LassoMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  6. 2017-01-01HeptachlorMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  7. 2017-01-01Heptachlor epoxideMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  8. 2017-01-01HexachlorobenzeneMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  9. 2017-01-01Benzo(a)pyreneMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  10. 2017-01-01Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)Monitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  11. 2017-01-01ChlordaneMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  12. 2017-01-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0130 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  13. 2016-10-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0140 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  14. 2016-10-01ArsenicMonitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  15. 2016-07-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0140 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  16. 2016-04-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0150 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  17. 2016-04-01ColiphageFailure to Conduct Assessment MonitoringBack in compliance
  18. 2016-03-05Public Notice ×2PN Violation for NPDWR ViolationBack in compliance
  19. 2016-02-01ColiphageFailure to Conduct Assessment MonitoringBack in compliance
  20. 2016-01-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0170 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  21. 2015-10-01Arsenic ×2Monitoring, RegularBack in compliance
  22. 2015-10-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0150 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  23. 2015-07-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0150 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  24. 2015-04-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0170 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  25. 2015-01-01Arsenic ×2MCL, Averagemeasured 0.0120 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  26. 2014-10-01ArsenicMCL, Averagemeasured 0.0150 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  27. 2014-07-01ArsenicMCL, Averagemeasured 0.0150 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  28. 2014-05-18Public NoticePN Violation for NPDWR ViolationBack in compliance
  29. 2014-04-01ArsenicMCL, Averagemeasured 0.0120 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  30. 2014-01-01ArsenicMCL, Averagemeasured 0.0110 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  31. 2013-10-01ArsenicMCL, Averagemeasured 0.0120 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  32. 2013-07-01ArsenicMCL, Averagemeasured 0.0110 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  33. 2013-04-01ArsenicMCL, Averagemeasured 0.0110 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  34. 2013-01-01ArsenicMCL, Averagemeasured 0.0130 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  35. 2012-10-01ArsenicMCL, Averagemeasured 0.0120 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  36. 2012-04-01ArsenicMCL, Averagemeasured 0.0110 MG/L · limit 0.0100 MG/LBack in compliance
  37. 2012-03-12Public NoticePN Violation for NPDWR ViolationBack in compliance
  38. 2011-11-24Public NoticePN Violation for NPDWR ViolationBack in compliance
  39. 2011-08-27Public NoticePN Violation for NPDWR ViolationBack in compliance
  40. 1994-07-01Lead and Copper RuleInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and CuBack in compliance

System details

Population served1,837
Service connections770
Water sourceGroundwater
System typeCommunity Water System
OwnerLocal Government
StatusActive
CityVale
EPA ZIP on file97918

Areas served

  • Malheur County

Reading this record

City of Vale is a community water system that draws from groundwater and serves about 1,837 people in Vale, Oregon. Everything above comes from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), where states report every violation by every public water system.

Four kinds of violation. Only one is a measurement of the water: over the limit means a test came back above a legal maximum (an MCL). A treatment lapse means a required protective step was not done, such as disinfection, filtration, fixing a defect an inspector found, or filing a lead-pipe inventory. A missed or late test means a required test was skipped or never reported. That is the most common kind, and the most misread: it does not mean the water was bad, and it does not mean the water was fine. Notices and reports covers public notices and the annual Consumer Confidence Report.

Status. “Back in compliance” means the state recorded a return to compliance. “Period ended” means the violation's compliance period is over but no return to compliance was ever filed, which is common in older records. EPA's federal copy lags state records by months, so call the utility for anything current.