Josephine County, Oregon — public water systems

How does Josephine County compare with other Oregon counties?

Josephine County has the 6th-most active public water systems among the 57 counties listed for active Oregon systems in EPA records; among the 38 with 3 or more systems, the median has 41. Its systems report 60,442 people served in total, the 14th-largest county figure in the state and 1.5% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 403 people, well below the Oregon average of 1,587. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Josephine County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Josephine County's active systems draw on groundwater (133, 89%), surface water (13, 8.7%), purchased surface water (3, 2%) and groundwater under influence of surface water (1, 0.7%). Overall, 89% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 11% on surface water, compared with 88% and 12% across Oregon. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, City of Grants Pass, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Josephine County?

Josephine County's active systems break down as 35 community systems (23%), 23 non-transient non-community systems (15%) and 92 transient non-community systems (61%). 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. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (72%), local government (21%), federal government (3.3%) and public/private partnership (2%).