The City of Newberg owns and operates a "wellfield" where water is pumped from an underground aquifer located south of the Willamette River. This water source is part of the greater Chehalem Watershed, a natural system bringing rain water from the surrounding hills to the underground aquifer.
There are restrictions on how surrounding land is used to protect underground water integrity. Two separate pipelines are used to transport the raw water to the treatment plant. This provides Newberg with 100% of its water supply.
The City operates one spring, Otis Spring, which is not connected to the drinking water system. It is currently used for irrigation by Chehalem Park and Recreation District at the Chehalem Glen Golf Course.
In July 2016 Chehalem Springs Water Association took over ownership of other area springs and contracts with Hiland Water to manage, bill, and maintain that system.
Why treat "raw" water at all?
The "raw" water from the aquifer is safe to drink. However, naturally occurring iron and manganese affects taste and color. The Water Treatment Plant filters the water and adds sodium hydroxide to raise the PH levels that prevents leaching of lead and copper from indoor plumbing.
The City is required to disinfect the water to ensure it remains safe while it travels through the system. Chlorine is added at 1.0ppm to ensure disinfection and chlorine residual tests are conducted throughout the system weekly.
