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OHA Drinking Water Services
February 18, 2026
In this issue:
As a reminder, water suppliers that add chlorine to their water supply for any reason are required to report the chlorine residual measured at the same time as collecting routine and repeat coliform samples from the distribution system. This monitoring is to ensure a detectable chlorine residual is maintained throughout the distribution system as required in OAR 333-061-0036(9).
Starting in April of 2026, DWS will issue violations to water systems that do not report a measured chlorine residual with their required distribution coliform samples. The violation will return to compliance if a detectable chlorine residual is reported with the next coliform sample.
In addition, water suppliers must measure chlorine residual at one or more representative points in the distribution system twice or more weekly. Measurements need to be recorded and kept in a convenient location at the water system.
Please contact your regulating agency if you have questions about chlorine residual monitoring and reporting for your water system.
Tester, Specialist, Distribution and Treatment certification renewals are wrapping up for people with last names beginning with L–Z. If you have not yet submitted your renewal form, please be aware that your certifications lapsed on December 31, 2025, and renewals submitted now will incur a $50 late fee.
Backflow testers with lapsed certifications may not perform any testing, and drinking water operators with lapsed certifications may not make operational decisions or be designated as Direct Responsible Charge (DRC).
Certified Operators, Testers, and Specialists who fail to renew their certification(s) for one year following the expiration date of the certification must re-apply for certification.
regon’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) provides low-cost loans to community and nonprofit non-community public water systems for planning, design, and construction of drinking water infrastructure improvements. All projects receive part of the loan as principal forgiveness.
Program Updates:
- Check out the recent improvements to the Sustainable Infrastructure Planning Projects (SIPP) funding guidelines here. Descriptions of all fundable categories have been updated, in addition to a newly expanded category for Security Risk, Vulnerability, and/or Resiliency Studies (including information technology/cybersecurity), and addition of a new category for Community Engagement Plans for Water Projects.
Upcoming Application Deadlines:
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- DWSRF Infrastructure Funding - Next letter of interest deadline is February 15, 2027.
- Sustainable Infrastructure Planning Projects (SIPP) Funding – Next application deadline is August 15, 2026.
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Small System Equipment Assistance (SSEA) Funding – Next application deadline is August 15, 2026.
How to Apply:
Visit Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to view available funding programs. Business Oregon’s Regional Development Officers can assist eligible water systems with the best funding options in their area. And OHA’s Circuit Rider Program offers up to 10 hours of free on-site technical assistance, including assistance with funding applications.
Questions? Reach out to OHA-Drinking Water Services at dws.srf@odhsoha.oregon.gov
Public water systems achieve Outstanding Performer status when they have no significant deficiencies identified and no unresolved violations, as evaluated during their routine water system surveys. Those that meet the Outstanding Performer criteria have their survey frequency reduced from every three years to every five years.
Below is a list of water systems that have met the established criteria for outstanding performance during the period of September 1 through December 30, 2025. (Some survey results from that period may still be in the data entry process, so the list may be incomplete.) DWS congratulates the operators of these systems for jobs well done!
Go here to find out how to qualify as an Outstanding Performer.
Find information about free trainings, webinars and CEUs on the Operator Certification Training Opportunities web page at www.healthoregon.org/dwtraining.
You have received this message because you have subscribed to the Pipeline Newsletter group of the Drinking Water Services email list.
Access past issues of the newsletter on the DWS Pipeline web page:
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS
/DRINKINGWATER/OPERATIONS/Pages/pipeline.aspx
Contact Drinking Water Services
info.drinkingwater@odhsoha.oregon.gov or 971-673-0405
See the Drinking Water Contacts web page for updated phone numbers and email addresses
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