The City of Hillsboro Water Department delivers safe, clean, and lead-free water to customers. Hillsboro’s water system has no known lead pipes or connections.

Sources of Lead in Drinking Water 

The main sources of lead in drinking water are customer-owned lead pipes, plumbing fixtures, and water service lines. 

• Lead solder for joining copper pipes: Solder made or installed in a customer’s home before 1986 can contain high lead levels.
• Water service line: If installed before 1986, a customer’s water service line – or the pipe running from the water meter to the home’s internal plumbing – may contain lead components.
• Fixtures: Brass plumbing fixtures and components inside a customer’s home may contain lead.
• Galvanized pipes: Lead particles from a customer’s water service line can attach to the surface of corroded galvanized pipes in the home. Over time, the particles can enter drinking water, causing elevated lead levels.

Lead can enter drinking water when customer’s plumbing materials break down or corrode.

Homes most at risk for lead in water are those generally built or plumbed between 1970 and 1985. Testing at the tap is the only way to know if the solder is leaching lead into your drinking water. Free lead-in-water testing kits are available to qualifying customers located in Hillsboro Water's service area. See Free Lead-in-Water Testing Program section below.

Lead-Based Paint

In addition, lead-based paint and lead contaminated dust are the most hazardous sources of lead for children residing in the United States. Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978. All houses built before 1978 are likely to contain some lead-based paint.

Lead paint is still present in millions of homes, sometimes under layers of newer paint. If the paint is in good shape, the lead paint is usually not a problem. Deteriorating lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, damaged, or damp) is a hazard and needs immediate attention.

It may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear, such as: 

• Windows and windowsills
• Doors and door frames
• Stairs, railings, banisters, and porches

If lead is present, elevated levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children.

If your home was built between 1970 and 1985, lead solder may have been used to join the pipes. Testing at the tap is the only way to know if the solder is leaching lead into drinking water. 

The Water Department offers free lead-in-water testing kits to qualifying customers located in the Hillsboro Water Department's service area, including:

• Residents and Nonprofit organizations
• Childcare facilities (daycares)

While the free lead-in-water testing kits are not being currently offered to businesses, the Water Department is available to provide information on accredited laboratories to any commercial customers wanting to test their facilities. 

The Water Department provides free lead testing to qualifying customers as a community service. The Water Department has no responsibility or authority to enforce any action on the customer for reduction of lead exposure. The responsibility for identifying and implementing any actions needed to address lead levels detected at or above the action level at the customer's testing location rests solely with the customer. 

Hillsboro’s drinking water comes from a high-quality source – the upper-Tualatin River - and consistently meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water standards, including requirements for lead.

In the Water Department’s water distribution system, there are no known lead service lines or infrastructure components. Learn what kind of pipe delivers waters to your home.

In addition, the Water Department provides treatment protection to minimize leaching. All water delivered to homes and businesses in the Water Department’s service area has gone through optimized treatment for corrosion control. A form of soda is used to raise the pH and reduce the corrosiveness of the water to reduce the potential for lead to leach from private plumbing fixtures.

Water providers, including the Hillsboro Water Department, test for lead directly at customers’ taps, instead of in the distribution system on a required schedule set by the Oregon Health Authority. Testing ensures water consumed by customers and their families meet safe drinking water standards. 

Testing last occurred in 2018. Lead was not detected above the action level (15 ppb) in either source water or private households. View results from past testing. 

The Hillsboro Water Department is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. 

Customers are encouraged to take the following measures to minimize the potential for lead exposure: 

• Flush pipes for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking 
• Only use cold water for eating, drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. 
• Change out old fixtures. Plumbing regulations now stipulate that all fixtures must be manufactured lead-free. Consider installing new fixtures and/or pipes to eliminate sources of exposure. 
• If necessary, use water filters and water treatment devices certified for effective lead reduction. 
• Test water. The only way to know if lead is present in your household water is to have it tested by an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) accredited laboratory.    

Boiling water will NOT remove lead. Boiling water will concentrate lead.

Additional information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps to minimize exposure is available on the EPA website or 1-800-426-4791.

Service Line Inventory

Service lines bring water from the water main in the street to the plumbing in homes and businesses. For most Hillsboro’s customers, the service line has split ownership between the utility, Hillsboro Water, and the customer. 

• Hillsboro Water owns and is responsible for maintaining the portion of the service line from the water main up to the meter.
• The customer owns and is responsible for the portion of the service line between the meter and the home. 

Water service lines can be made of different materials, including plastic, galvanized steel, copper, or lead. The installation of water service lines containing lead was banned in Oregon in 1985. Hillsboro Water has developed an interactive map for the community to easily find information on their water service line material. Open the map and search your address to find out your service line material. 

Resources

• Residents and Nonprofits: Request a free lead-in-water test kit
• Childcare Facilities: Request a free lead-in-water test kit
• Oregon Health Authority Lead and Copper Rule Revisions website
• Oregon Health Authority Lead and Copper Rule Frequently Asked Questions

The Hillsboro School District (HSD) is testing fixtures in their schools and facilities for lead. Additional information and testing results are posted on the HSD’s Environmental Testing webpage.