DEQ tests Deschutes, other waters for toxins

Central Oregon is home to beautiful blue lakes and rushing water but hidden in our water are toxic chemicals.

And while current levels are low, we now have our best info yet on what’s there — and how much.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality just released the findings of their first toxic chemicals survey. The agency tested for more than 500 chemicals from 2008 to 2013 at 177 test sites across the state.

They found 128 different chemicals.

“Metals, current-use pesticides, those legacy old banned pesticides, consumer product constituents,” Kevin Masterson of Oregon DEQ said Monday.

The agency tested for those chemicals and more from the Willamette Valley to Grande Ronde and in 19 different spots in the Deschutes River Basin. Samples showed 36 chemicals in our basin.

“That’s not just in the river but the other tributaries, too,” Masterson said.

Two of those 36 are called “legacy pesticides.” Those are banned pesticides and insecticides like DDT. These are highly concentrated and can be very harmful.

“I would be concerned only because they are a problem at such low levels,” Masterson said.

However, the DEQ says the chemicals they found were at very low level,s and those recreating in the water should not be concerned.

The DEQ will use this study as a baseline for future testing as they work to manage toxic chemicals in the state.

Here is a link to the full study.