Quick Facts

Information on Public Water Systems:

  • Public water systems provide water for human consumption to at least 15 service connections or serve an average of at least 25 people for at least 60 days a year. These range from large city systems to smaller systems such as mobile home parks and campgrounds.
  • There are approximately 155,000 public water systems in the United States. Benton County has 53 public water systems.
  • Community public water systems supply water to the same population year-round. There are 15 community water systems in Benton County, which serve a population of 63,616, or 88% of the population. The 10 largest and their populations served are:
    • City of Corvallis - 54,800
    • Philomath Public Works - 4,690
    • Adair Village Water System - 933
    • Pope and Talbot, Inc. - 800
    • City of Monroe - 690
    • Knoll Terrace Park - 400
    • Vineyard Mountain Water - 325
    • Alsea County Service District - 243
    • Fir View Water Company - 180
    • Cascade View Estates - 150
  • 91% of the public water systems in Benton County use groundwater as their source.
  • Over 88% of the population of Benton County is served by surface water.
  • Approximately 80-90% of the household water use in Benton County is met by surface water withdrawals from the Willamette River and its tributaries.
  • Some of the most recognizable rivers in Benton County serve as drinking water sources:
    • Alsea
    • Long Tom
    • Luckiamute
    • Mary's
    • Willamette
  • The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimates Benton County water use to be approximately 100 gallons per capita per day.
  • Approximately 12% of the Benton County population gets their drinking water from domestic wells.

 

Sources of Contaminants:

  • The primary concern for potential contaminants of surface water sources include contaminated runoff, stormwater, and wastewater discharge.
  • For groundwater sources, the greatest potential risks in Benton County are:
    • Above ground storage tanks: spills or leaks of fuel and other chemicals
    • Agricultural activities
    • High density septic systems (>1 system per acre): microbes, nitrate, and other improperly discarded chemicals
    • Transportation related spills, leaks, improper handling of chemicals
    • Underground storage tanks: leaks or spills of fuels or heating oil
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