Public water system · OR4100153
ActiveBurns Water Department
At a glance
Burns Water Department (PWSID OR4100153) is an active community water system in Harney County, Oregon. It reports serving 2,730 people through 1,429 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in February 2026.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
2,730
Service connections
1,429
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Burns Water Department compare with other water systems in Harney County?
By EPA's size categories, Burns Water Department is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Harney County has 11 active public water systems, and Burns Water Department is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 5.6 times the county average of 483 people per system, and accounts for 51% of the 5,315 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Oregon, the 2,536 active systems average 1,587 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Burns Water Department is about 59% below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Oregon has 940 active community water systems, 37% of the state's 2,536 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 2,175 Oregon systems (86%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Burns Water Department?
EPA lists Burns Water Department as owned by a local government. The OR state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 3 of the 11 active systems in Harney County (27%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Burns Water Department have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in February 2026. The violations listed here began between January 2005 and February 2026. By type: 8 monitoring and reporting, 2 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 monitoring and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (5 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2026-01-18 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique, Level 1 Assessment (RTCR) · code 2A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2022-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Tetrachloroethylenecode 2987 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (GWR) · code 34 | E. colicode 3014 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (GWR) · code 34 | E. colicode 3014 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2005-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Alachlor (Lasso)code 2051 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Burns Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Burns Water Department?
Burns Water Department (PWSID OR4100153) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the OR state drinking water program.
How many people does Burns Water Department serve?
Burns Water Department reports serving 2,730 people through 1,429 service connections in Harney County, Oregon.
Where does Burns Water Department get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Burns Water Department have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in February 2026. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Burns Water Department's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in February 2026. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the OR state drinking water program.
Where can I find Burns Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Burns Water Department must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Harney County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hines Water Department | Harney | 1,645 | Community | Groundwater |
| Crane Union High/Elem Sd 1j | Harney | 340 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Odot Hd Sage Hen Hill Rest Area | Harney | 200 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Gh2o Inc. | Harney | 120 | Community | Groundwater |
| Blm Burns District Office | Harney | 70 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Highland Ranch Estates | Harney | 60 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Burns Water Department, PWSID OR4100153, Oregon”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/oregon/burns-water-department-or4100153 (data as of October 1, 2026).