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Residential Water/Wells

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How to test and treat my residential well water?

Q: I am fairly new to using my well, and I had a few questions: My well has a holding tank and the water tested positive for E. coli bacteria. I had a UV light installed and was wondering what else I should do to ...

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Septic Tank Maintenance

To keep your septic system operating well, have the tank inspected and pumped every one to five years, depending on the number of people in your home.

Mar 2022 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Why Do Septic Systems Fail?

Septic systems treat and dispose of sewage in a safe, sanitary manner. But if sewage backs up into your house or your yard develops a smelly spot, you may have a septic tank failure. Learn why and how septic tanks fail — and what you can do to keep it from happening.

Mar 2022 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

What is bubbling up in my pasture?

Q: I have a very small (2-3 inches wide and 1 inch deep) puddle in my pasture that is blowing bubbles. I can stick my finger in it and feel the air coming up from beneath. I first noticed this puddle on January 24 ...

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How deep do my irrigation pipes need to be?

Q: I hired a lawn irrigation contractor to install a lawn irrigation system in our yard. He buried the lawn irrigation pipes about 7 - 8 inches below the surface. He maintains that the pipes are "plenty deep" to avoid winter...

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New book reviews Oregon forest management, water quality issues

Trees to Tap: How Forest Practices Affect Oregon’s Municipal Water, is a comprehensive new book exploring how forest management impacts Oregon’s water.

Kym Pokorny | Nov 4, 2021 | News story

Groundwater specialist leads effort to repair fire-damaged septic systems and wells in Lincoln County

Chrissy Lucas-Woodruff is distributing flyers in English and Spanish and visiting fire survivors where they’ve landed after the fire stole their homes.

Kym Pokorny | Sep 8, 2021 | News story

Water-wise Gardening in Central Oregon

You can have a colorful and beautiful landscape while conserving water and saving time, energy and money. Learn innovative conservation techniques for water-wise gardening, or xeriscaping, in central Oregon. Full plant lists give you...

Amy Jo Detweiler | Jun 2020 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Water Systems: Taking Care of a Precious Resource

These best practices for wells, ponds and other water systems can help you secure a safe, reliable water supply and help to ensure that we protect our streams, lakes and groundwater. This is one of a series of Rural ...

Rachel Werling | Dec 2019 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

New analysis reveals challenges for drought management in Oregon’s Willamette River Basin

In Oregon’s Willamette River Basin, managing water scarcity would be more effective if conservation measures were introduced in advance and upstream from the locations where droughts are likely to cause shortages, according to a new study.

Chris Branam | Jul 15, 2019 | News story