Public water system · OR4100318
ActiveGearhart Water Department
At a glance
Gearhart Water Department (PWSID OR4100318) is an active community water system in Clatsop County, Oregon. It reports serving 1,780 people through 1,600 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in February 2026.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,780
Service connections
1,600
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Gearhart Water Department compare with other water systems in Clatsop County?
By EPA's size categories, Gearhart Water Department is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Clatsop County has 31 active public water systems, and Gearhart Water Department is the 6th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 32% above the county average of 1,345 people per system, and accounts for 4.3% of the 41,699 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 Gearhart Water Department is well 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. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 105 Oregon systems (4.1%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Gearhart Water Department?
EPA lists Gearhart 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. 11 of the 31 active systems in Clatsop County (35%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Gearhart Water Department have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in February 2026. The violations listed here began between January 2008 and February 2026. By type: 9 monitoring and reporting and 3 monitoring. 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 |
| 2025-12-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-05-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | 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.
Gearhart Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Gearhart Water Department?
Gearhart Water Department (PWSID OR4100318) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the OR state drinking water program.
How many people does Gearhart Water Department serve?
Gearhart Water Department reports serving 1,780 people through 1,600 service connections in Clatsop County, Oregon.
Where does Gearhart Water Department get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Gearhart Water Department have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is 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 Gearhart 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, none is 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 Gearhart Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Gearhart 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 Clatsop County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astoria, City of | Clatsop | 10,181 | Community | Surface water |
| Warrenton, City of | Clatsop | 9,100 | Community | Surface water |
| Seaside Water Department | Clatsop | 7,482 | Community | Surface water |
| Youngs River Lewis & Clark Wd | Clatsop | 2,580 | Community | Surface water |
| Knappa Water Association | Clatsop | 1,800 | Community | Groundwater |
| Cannon Beach, City of | Clatsop | 1,710 | Community | 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, “Gearhart Water Department, PWSID OR4100318, Oregon”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/oregon/gearhart-water-department-or4100318 (data as of October 1, 2026).