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Bacteria
This section includes information on concentrations of E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria in the Willamette River and its tributaries within the Willamette Plan Area. These bacteria are found in human and animal feces and are considered to be a water quality pollutant. Fecal coliform is on Oregon’s 303(d) list for the lower Willamette River, indicating that this section of the river is not in compliance with water quality standards for fecal coliform.
Conventional Water Quality Parameters
This section includes parameters that are commonly used to assess water quality: temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, total suspended solids, ammonia-nitrogen, nitrate+nitrite-nitrogen, and total phosphorus. Of these, temperature is on Oregon’s 303(d) list for the lower Willamette River, indicating that this section of the river is not in compliance with water quality standards for temperature.
Metals
Information on the following metals is summarized in the water quality characterization: mercury, arsenic, iron, manganese, cadmium, copper, lead and zinc. Of these, mercury, manganese, and iron are on Oregon’s 303(d) for the lower Willamette River, indicating that this section of the river is not in compliance with water quality standards for these metals.
Organics & Pesticides
This section covers information on the following pesticides and organic compounds: pentachlorophenol, DDT, PCBs, Aldrin, Dieldrin, and PAHs. All of these parameters are on Oregon’s 303(d) list for the lower Willamette River, indicating that this section of the river is not in compliance with water quality standards for these compounds.
Other Considerations
In addition to measurable water quality parameters, there are other considerations important to water quality in the lower Willamette River and its tributaries within the Willamette Plan Area. These include discharge of industrial wastewater under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), discharges identified through the City’s Illicit Discharge Elimination Program (IDEP), combined sewer overflows, stormwater discharges, and stormwater sumps, also known as underground injection control (UIC) wells.
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Government 
