Bull Run Watershed

Protected Watershed · Pacific Northwest

Serves 5 cities in our database · ~887,058 residents

You're looking at the creator's water source.

The person who built CheckMyTap lives in Portland and drinks Bull Run water every day. Their corgi Bella prefers it unfiltered - the water snob. This is genuinely one of the best municipal water supplies in the country. No filtration needed, straight from a protected wilderness. We're biased, but the data backs us up.

24
Avg Hardness (PPM)
6.2
Avg PFAS (ppt)
2.8
Avg Lead (ppb)
5
Cities Served
Soft
0Slightly
60Moderate
120Hard
180Very Hard
250Extreme
400+
24 PPM Slightly Hard
CONTAMINANT LEVELS Hardness 24 PPM TDS 37 PPM PFAS 6.2 ppt Lead 2.8 ppb Chlorine 0.6 mg/L Nitrate 0.2 mg/L

About Bull Run Watershed

Portland, Oregon drinks some of the purest tap water in America thanks to Bull Run — a federally protected watershed in the Mt. Hood National Forest that has been closed to public access since 1895.

Geography & Hydrology

The 102-square-mile watershed sits on the western slopes of the Cascade Range at elevations between 750 and 4,750 feet. Two reservoirs (Bull Run Reservoir 1 and 2) hold 17 billion gallons. Rainfall and snowmelt feed the system — no agricultural or industrial activity has ever been permitted.

How Bull Run Watershed Water Is Treated

Bull Run water is so clean that Portland received an EPA variance exempting it from the filtration requirement. Treatment consists only of chlorine disinfection, sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment, and ammonia (forming chloramine). No coagulation, no sedimentation, no filtration.

Across the 5 cities we track, water from Bull Run Watershed averages 24 PPM hardness (Slightly Hard), ranging from 15 to 42 PPM. This is relatively soft water - a water softener is generally not needed.

PFAS concern: Cities supplied by Bull Run Watershed average 6.2 ppt PFAS, exceeding the 2024 EPA limit of 4 ppt. An NSF P473 certified filter is recommended for drinking water.

Current Challenges

Climate change reducing snowpack, occasional seasonal turbidity events requiring temporary use of the Columbia South Shore Well Field, and a federally mandated UV treatment facility being constructed for cryptosporidium compliance.

Cities Supplied by Bull Run Watershed

Water quality varies by city due to local treatment, distribution infrastructure, and source blending.

Portland, OR

15 PPM · Soft 666,200 residents

Beaverton, OR

24 PPM · Slightly Hard 88,045 residents

Gresham, OR

22 PPM · Slightly Hard 73,932 residents

Manassas, VA

42 PPM · Slightly Hard 42,696 residents

Troutdale, OR

16 PPM · Soft 16,185 residents

Recommended for Bull Run Watershed Water

Based on average water quality across 5 cities supplied by Bull Run Watershed.

PFAS Filter Clearly Filtered Pitcher ~$90 Test Your Tap Home Water Test Kit ~$30

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission on purchases. Recommendations based on water quality data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bull Run Watershed water safe to drink?
Water from Bull Run Watershed meets EPA safety standards in all served cities. However, average PFAS levels of 6.2 ppt exceed the 2024 EPA health guideline. A certified water filter is recommended for drinking water.
Why is Bull Run Watershed water soft?
Bull Run Watershed benefits from a protected watershed that produces naturally soft water with low dissolved mineral content.
How many people drink Bull Run Watershed water?
Bull Run Watershed supplies drinking water to 5 cities in our database, serving approximately 887,058 residents. The largest cities include Portland, OR; Beaverton, OR; Gresham, OR.
Do I need a water filter for Bull Run Watershed water?
Yes. With PFAS averaging 6.2 ppt, a reverse osmosis or activated carbon filter is recommended. Look for NSF P473 certification.