Safe Drinking Water Rights for Oregon Renters

Access to safe drinking water is essential for health and well-being. If you're renting a home in Oregon, it's important to understand your rights regarding water quality, as well as what your landlord is legally required to provide. This article breaks down the standards, legal requirements, and key steps if you have concerns about drinking water safety in your Oregon rental property.

What Are Landlords Required to Provide for Drinking Water?

Under Oregon law, rental properties must offer access to safe and potable (drinkable) water. This means landlords are responsible for ensuring that water provided to tenants is free from contaminants that could be harmful to health.^[1]

• Potable water must come from a lawful source: This includes municipal water systems or approved private wells.
• Maintenance of plumbing and fixtures: Landlords must keep pipes, faucets, and water heaters in good repair to prevent contamination or interruptions in water supply.
• Quick repairs: When renters notify landlords about lack of water or possible contamination, repairs must be made promptly.

Oregon’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act sets these standards to keep renters safe.

Which Laws and Agencies Protect Drinking Water Quality?

• Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, ORS Chapter 90: Requires landlords to provide safe water and maintain all facilities to keep rental units healthy.^[1]
• Oregon Health Authority: Drinking Water Services: Enforces safe water standards statewide and regulates public water systems.^[2]
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Safe Drinking Water Act: Sets national standards for public drinking water systems.^[3]

What About Private Wells?

If your rental gets water from a private well, landlords are required to test the well for certain contaminants—like arsenic and nitrates—before a home is sold or transferred. However, for ongoing rentals, there is no automatic re-testing law. If you suspect a problem (strange smell, taste, or appearance), you can request your landlord to test the water and address contamination risks.

What Can a Renter Do If Drinking Water Is Unsafe?

If you believe your rental water is not safe to drink, you do have legal rights and specific steps to restore safe water conditions:

• Notify Your Landlord: Always start by sending a written request describing the issue (such as discolored water or a failed water test).
  
• Request Timely Repairs: Oregon law states landlords must make repairs as soon as possible for essential services like water.
• Follow Formal Complaint or Repair Options: If the landlord does not respond, you may be able to file a complaint with local health authorities or the Oregon Health Authority.

Official Forms and How to Use Them

• Notice of Essential Service Failure (No Official Standard Form, but Written Notice Required):
  When to use: If you lose access to safe drinking water, by law you must give your landlord written notice describing the problem and requesting it be fixed.
  Example: "On March 2nd, the water in my apartment appears unsafe and has a strong odor. Please restore safe drinking water immediately."
• Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Complaint Form: Submit a Drinking Water Quality Complaint
  When to use: If the issue continues after reporting to your landlord, use this form to file a complaint directly with the Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services.
  Example: You're unable to get clean water after contacting your landlord, so you complete the online complaint form, providing details about the issue.

Which Tribunal Handles Rental Water Disputes?

If the issue is not resolved and you experience ongoing unsafe conditions, you may contact your local county circuit court, which handles residential tenancy disputes in Oregon, including habitability concerns like water safety. Visit the Oregon Judicial Department's Courts Directory for your county’s contact information.^[4]

How to Protect Your Rights as a Renter

To summarize, ensuring a safe supply of drinking water as a renter in Oregon involves knowing your rights, communicating issues clearly with your landlord, and using official complaint processes if needed.

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