IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
The City of Amity Did Not Meet Treatment Requirements for Disinfection and Corrosion Control and May Contain Higher Levels of Copper
Our water system recently violated drinking water standards for disinfection and corrosion control treatment. Although this situation is not an emergency and does not require that you take immediate action, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation.
- We routinely monitor for disinfectant residual in the distribution system. This measurement
tells us whether we are effectively disinfecting the water supply. Disinfectant residual is the amount of chlorine or related disinfectant present in the pipes of the distribution system. If the amount of disinfectant is too low, organisms could grow in the pipes. - In December 2025, the free chlorine residual dropped below the minimum required level of 0.2 mg/l at the entry point to the distribution such that we did not meet disinfection requirements on December 27th, 28th, and 29th. During this time the chlorine residual ranged from 0.3 mg/l on December 27th, 0.35 mg/l on December 28th, and 0.02 mg/l on December 29th (the lowest level for the month). The free chlorine disinfectant residual was subsequently restored to meet all disinfection requirements on December 30th, 2025, with a free chlorine residual of 1.92 mg/l.
- City staff believe the issue stems from a malfunctioning chlorine analyzer as it mis-reads the actual residual level of chlorine. Operators have physically tested the treated water to confirm that disinfection is occurring. Recently, on January 11th, the chlorine residual was noticed by consumers as it was turned a bit higher than normal to correct for a low reading from this malfunctioning analyzer. While higher than normal, chlorine levels remained within safe levels. The issue with the analyzer has been corrected.
- We routinely sample water at consumers’ taps for copper. Historical tests in 2015 showed copper levels in the water above the limit, or action level, so we installed corrosion control treatment which was fully completed and approved by 2018. This treatment helps prevent copper in the pipes from dissolving into the water. Copper levels have been below action levels and in compliance since 2016.
- During the last six-month period (July 1 – Dec 31, 2025), we failed to consistently meet treatment technique requirements for our corrosion control system. We failed to meet our minimum required pH of 7.5 on 10 days between November 4th and November 28th, 2025. During this time the pH at the entry point to the distribution system fluctuated between a low of 7.1 to a high of 9.1, with 10 of those days below 7.5. Treatment was restored on November 28th to meet the required minimum pH of 7.5, which has continued to be met as of the date of this notice.
What should I do?
- You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.
- People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426-4791.
- Listed below are some additional steps you can take to reduce your exposure to copper:
- Call us at the number below to find out how to get your water tested for copper.
- Find out whether your pipes or other plumbing components contain copper. Remove or limit copper or copper-containing pipes, fittings, fixtures and equipment that in contact with our drinking water.
- Run your water for 15-30 seconds or until it becomes cold before using it for drinking or cooking. This flushes any standing copper from the pipes.
- Avoid the use of first draw water for drinking or in preparation of food or beverages.
- Do not boil your water to remove copper. Excessive boiling water makes the copper more concentrated, and the copper remains when the water evaporates.
What does this mean?
This situation does not require that you take immediate action. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately.
Inadequately treated water [e.g., filtered and disinfected] may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water, but also by other factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.
Typically, copper enters water supplies by leaching from copper or brass pipes and plumbing components. Your water is more likely to contain high copper levels if water in your pipes and fixtures is corrosive in nature. High levels of copper in Oregon Water supplies are nearly always due to copper piping and bronze or brass fittings in plumbing. Copper levels greater than the action level may cause stomach irritation and vomiting. Infants or children exposed to levels of copper above the action level for weeks or months may suffer liver and kidney damage. However, persons recover quickly from short-term exposures and there are no confirmed long-term health effects from accidental or occasional exposures to drinking water containing copper levels above the action level.
What happened? What is being done?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately.
Disinfection residual levels have been stabilized to provide adequate disinfection and so far this month have met all requirements. Tests during this same period did not indicate the presence of bacteria in the water.
Corrosion control treatment is now functioning properly and meeting all the requirements.
For more information, please contact Amity City Hall at 503-835-3711 or PO Box 159, Amity, OR 97101.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may
not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
This notice is being sent to you by The City of Amity ID#: OR4100041. Date distributed: 01/12/2026