News and Information

Tooley Water District Budget Quick Links

Submitted by JohnAmery on Tue, 05/05/2026 - 9:07am

Tooley Water District Budget quick links.
(This post will be updated as new links become available)

Tooley switching system operators

Submitted by JohnAmery on Sat, 04/11/2026 - 12:23pm

Tooley Water District is transitioning our water operations from Northwest Natural Water Systems to Chenowith Water starting May 1st.

Update Please make checks out to Tooley Water District. You can pay at Chenowith Water.

Starting May 1st you can pay your bill directly at Chenowith Water:

  • 2312 W 8th Street - Physical Address
  • PO Box 870 The Dalles, Oregon 97058 - Mailing Address
  • 541-296-5363 - Phone Number

or send your last payment through NWNWS using your regular methods.
No payments should be sent through NWNWS starting June 1st.

Additionally, starting May 1st all system questions or issues should be directed to Chenowith Water.

Tooley Water District would like to thank Northwest Natural Water Services (formerly Hiland Water) for the many years of service they have provided. We also look forward to working with Chenowith Water moving forward.

Water Right Notices

Submitted by JohnAmery on Fri, 02/27/2026 - 2:21pm

Tooley Water District members have been receiving notices in the mail regarding water rights.

You can ignore these messages.

Tooley Water District had previously requested a transfer of water rights from our existing lower well to a new well location we were planning to develop by the reservoir. As it can take years for water right transfers to go through we initiated this process before finalizing the plan for the well. Currently we are looking at alternative options to developing a new well and have rescinded our request for water rights transfer.

Bottled Water Program

Submitted by JohnAmery on Mon, 09/29/2025 - 8:09pm

Now that OHA has removed all warnings for Tooley Water District Water we are suspending the bottled water program.

The bottled water program is funded by a grant from OREM (Office of Resilience and Emergency Management). OREM provided Tooley Water District with a fixed grant amount. Now that Tooley Water District's water is potable, the Tooley Water District Board voted to save those grant dollars in the event we experience future water quality issues.

It's official - We are removing the "Do Not Drink Advisory"

Submitted by JohnAmery on Thu, 07/31/2025 - 9:42am

edit 7/31/25 1:14pm
ODWS is recommending that ALL Tooley Water District members wait for the testing results (expected on or after august 18th) before drinking the water, not just members on the upper pressure system zone.

ODWS has not changed their official stance that Tooley Water District can remove our "Do Not Drink The Water" advisory.

Original message 7/31/25 9:42am
We have received official notice that we can remove our "Do Not Drink advisory" on our water system.

Tooley Water District's water is now Potable.

That being said, for those users on the upper pressure system (any house above the reservoir in elevation), ODWS (Oregon Drinking Water Services) recommends that an advisory remain in place until additional VOC resamples can take place. This recommendation is due to consideration that unidentifiable substances were noted in previous tests. While the previous tests did not fail, it is recommended to make more attempts to identify these substances.

Our contractor (NWNWS) is scheduled to take additional samples on August 6th, and we hope to get those results back on August 18th. Those members located above the reservoir may want to wait for those test results before consuming Tooley Water.

Testing of water

Submitted by JohnAmery on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 12:54pm

Update: 7/11/25
Our Contractor NWNWS has informed us that we should be getting the results back from the tests by 7/22/25.

Update: 7/7/25
Our Contractor NWNWS needs to perform more tests tomorrow. Please do not use any water after midnight tonight. You will be notified tomorrow when we can use the water again (for NON-POTABLE purposes). DO NOT DRINK THE WATER until we have received test results back indicating the water is safe.

Original Post: 7/2/25
For those members with standing houses, you will be notified today by our contractor NWNWS that they will be testing your water tomorrow (Thursday 7/3).
This will require access to a faucet at your residence. An outdoor faucet will work.
Additionally, you will receive a message not to use any water starting at midnight tonight until you are notified again.
They are testing stagnant water in your pipes. In order to acquire a good test, the water needs to have been sitting in your pipes at least 8-12 hours.
You will be notified when you can use your water again.

Assuming all the tests come back clean, we may be able to declare our water as potable in a few days.

Water turned off due to fire

Submitted by JohnAmery on Sat, 06/14/2025 - 12:32pm

Update: 6/19/25
Water service has been restored for all standing structures.
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER. DO NOT COOK WITH THE WATER. BOILING DOES NOT HELP.
NCPHD Unsafe Water Alert click link for more info: https://www.tooleywater.org/sites/default/files/TooleyReports/do-not-dri...

Update: 6/16/25
We are hoping to have water services on tomorrow Tuesday.
When we turn it on it is very important: DO NOT DRINK THE WATER. DO NOT COOK WITH THE WATER. BOILING DOES NOT HELP.
Due to contaminations from the fire (potential PFAs from fire retardant, asbestos in houses, toxins in the burnt PVC conduit etc.).
NCPHD Unsafe Water Alert click link for more info: https://www.tooleywater.org/sites/default/files/TooleyReports/do-not-dri...

6/14/25
Due to the fire water services have been turned off.
We are hoping that our contractor NWNWS will be allowed into the region on monday to assess damages and work on the water system.
If all goes well we may have water turned on for those homes that are still standing on Monday or Tuesday.
Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to all our members that have lost their homes and belongs.

Boil Water Notice

Submitted by JohnAmery on Sat, 06/07/2025 - 4:45pm

A boil Water notice was issued on June 4th because one of the pumps on the pressure system failed which caused a loss of pressure. According to State or Oregon mandates, a boil water notice is required in this situation because the reverse pressure may have sucked in outside elements into the water system which could introduce bacteria into the water system. All households were contacted directly when this boil notice was issued.

The Boil Water notice was lifted on June 7th after testing determined that the water was safe to drink. It is no longer recommended to boil water before drinking.

Just as a reminder we will be turning on the lower well on June 11th. It is no longer recommended to drink the water on June 11th through the summer until we turn off the lower well. A bottled water program is in place for drinking and cooking purposes.

Plan to turn on the lower well on June 11

Submitted by JohnAmery on Tue, 06/03/2025 - 12:12pm

Tooley Water District is planning to turn on the lower well on June 11th. This is the offending well that often distributes water with high Nitrate levels.

We are recommending that you do NOT drink the water starting June 11th until we have updated this webpage that we are turning off the lower well (October timeframe).

We are turning on the lower well because the upper well can not keep up with water demand during summer months.

2025-2026 Budget Cycle

Submitted by JohnAmery on Mon, 04/28/2025 - 7:57am

FY 2025-2026 Budget Cycle
This post will be updated as new information becomes available:

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