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News Release

OHA Analysis: Contaminants In Crook County Wells Pose Health Risks - 06/11/26

June 11, 2026

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

OHA analysis: Contaminants in Crook County wells pose health risks

Agency opens public comment on draft health consultation, which shows high levels of manganese, other toxins in many households’ well water supplies

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is seeking public comment on its analysis of community health risks related to drinking water from domestic wells near Prineville.

OHA will accept comments from members of the public at ehap.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov until Aug. 17, 2026.

High-level findings from OHA’s “health consultation” report are that water from many of the nearly 60 domestic wells tested in an area to the north of Prineville pose some level of health risk from a set of contaminants common in wells in Oregon. Those contaminants include arsenic, nitrates and some coliform bacteria.

The Environmental Health Assessment Program (EHAP) at OHA’s Public Health Division published the report today.

Contractors working on behalf of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) collected water samples from 58 domestic wells just to the north of Prineville in fall 2024 and spring 2025. OHA evaluated the results of the well water sample testing for health risks and documented conclusions and recommendations in the health consultation report.

About half of the tested wells had detectable levels of lead, which is typically from piping or plumbing in the houses themselves. About half of the wells also had levels of manganese that cause stress and inconvenience for residents, such as bad taste, discoloration, and cloudiness. People usually won’t drink water with manganese at the levels found in the residents’ wells due to the bad taste and smell.

Seven of the wells had levels of manganese high enough to pose health risks to children under 1 year old, were they to drink it. The report includes recommendations about what households can do to mitigate risk and address the contamination in their wells, such as seeking blood lead testing, especially for children; ensuring water treatment is in place; and doing additional water testing to verify the effectiveness of treatment.

OHA has already communicated well sampling results, along with health risk information, to residents of each household tested and offered one-on-one consultation with OHA’s senior state toxicologist.

OHA has been involved with public health related work at this site since late 2023 when Crook County commissioners convened a group of state agency representatives to address groundwater quality issues raised by their constituents. OHA was included in this group and collaborated with other state agencies, the Oregon Governor’s Office, county commissioners and the local county health department to plan a response. The agency’s Crook County Wells webpage provides additional background on EHAP’s involvement in Crook County.

The full health consultation and access to other supporting material is available on the OHA website at www.oregon.gov/crookcowells.

People with questions or comments about the health consultation and related documents can email ehap.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov or call 971-673-0440. Public comments will be taken through Aug. 17, 2026.

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OHA Analysis: Contaminants In Crook County Wells Pose Health Risks - 06/11/26

June 11, 2026

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

OHA analysis: Contaminants in Crook County wells pose health risks

Agency opens public comment on draft health consultation, which shows high levels of manganese, other toxins in many households’ well water supplies

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is seeking public comment on its analysis of community health risks related to drinking water from domestic wells near Prineville.

OHA will accept comments from members of the public at ehap.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov until Aug. 17, 2026.

High-level findings from OHA’s “health consultation” report are that water from many of the nearly 60 domestic wells tested in an area to the north of Prineville pose some level of health risk from a set of contaminants common in wells in Oregon. Those contaminants include arsenic, nitrates and some coliform bacteria.

The Environmental Health Assessment Program (EHAP) at OHA’s Public Health Division published the report today.

Contractors working on behalf of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) collected water samples from 58 domestic wells just to the north of Prineville in fall 2024 and spring 2025. OHA evaluated the results of the well water sample testing for health risks and documented conclusions and recommendations in the health consultation report.

About half of the tested wells had detectable levels of lead, which is typically from piping or plumbing in the houses themselves. About half of the wells also had levels of manganese that cause stress and inconvenience for residents, such as bad taste, discoloration, and cloudiness. People usually won’t drink water with manganese at the levels found in the residents’ wells due to the bad taste and smell.

Seven of the wells had levels of manganese high enough to pose health risks to children under 1 year old, were they to drink it. The report includes recommendations about what households can do to mitigate risk and address the contamination in their wells, such as seeking blood lead testing, especially for children; ensuring water treatment is in place; and doing additional water testing to verify the effectiveness of treatment.

OHA has already communicated well sampling results, along with health risk information, to residents of each household tested and offered one-on-one consultation with OHA’s senior state toxicologist.

OHA has been involved with public health related work at this site since late 2023 when Crook County commissioners convened a group of state agency representatives to address groundwater quality issues raised by their constituents. OHA was included in this group and collaborated with other state agencies, the Oregon Governor’s Office, county commissioners and the local county health department to plan a response. The agency’s Crook County Wells webpage provides additional background on EHAP’s involvement in Crook County.

The full health consultation and access to other supporting material is available on the OHA website at www.oregon.gov/crookcowells.

People with questions or comments about the health consultation and related documents can email ehap.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov or call 971-673-0440. Public comments will be taken through Aug. 17, 2026.

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