The City of Astoria’s water system provides reliable, high-quality drinking water to residents, businesses, and several surrounding water districts. The system begins at the City’s 3,700-acre Bear Creek watershed, located about 12 miles east of Astoria near Svensen. This watershed is entirely owned and managed by the City, helping protect the quality of Astoria’s drinking water from its source.
Water from the watershed is stored in three lakes, Main Lake, Middle Lake, and Wickiup Lake, before being treated at the City’s slow sand filtration facility, constructed in 1993. After treatment, water travels to the city through a 12-mile transmission pipeline, which also supplies several neighboring water districts along the way. Within Astoria, treated water is stored in two large reservoirs and distributed throughout the community through approximately 75 miles of water lines, along with more than 4,000 water meters, over 400 fire hydrants, and more than 1,000 system control valves. Multiple booster pump stations and storage facilities help ensure reliable water service throughout the city’s varied elevations. On average, the system supplies approximately 2.5 million gallons of water per day to both the City and surrounding districts.
Astoria’s drinking water is continually monitored and tested to ensure it meets or exceeds state and federal drinking water standards. Water quality testing includes regular monitoring for chlorine levels, turbidity, bacteria, hardness, alkalinity, and other potential contaminants.
The City’s commitment to water quality and system reliability has been recognized by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), which has designated Astoria’s water system as an “Outstanding Performer.” This designation is awarded to community water systems that demonstrate exceptional compliance with drinking water regulations, including no violations of Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), treatment techniques, or action levels within the past five years, no more than one monitoring violation within three years, no significant deficiencies, and no waterborne disease outbreaks. Systems with this designation are recognized for consistently maintaining high regulatory compliance and operational performance.
Astoria’s water has also been recognized for its quality and taste. In 2026, the City received the Best Tasting Surface Water in Oregon award from the Oregon Association of Water Utilities (OAWU).
The operation and maintenance of Astoria’s water system is funded through water utility rates, helping ensure the continued reliability and safety of the community’s drinking water supply. For more information about the Astoria water system, please visit the links below.
