The Oceanside Water District currently supports two separate water treatment plants. The larger of the two serves Oceanside and is located north of Oceanside along the Loop Road. The second treatment plant is for Cape Meares and is located further north on the Loop Road near the intersection of the Loop Road with Bayocean Road.

The tap water for Oceanside originates high up on Mt. Meares, emanating from pristine, spring-fed, wetlands. Gradually this
water in Short creek flows west towards the Pacific Ocean .As part of the greater Netarts Bay/Sand Lake/Neskowin Creek Watershed in the Wilson-Trask-Nestucca Sub-Basin, Short Creek water is collected in an impoundment pond where it settles out impurities collected along the way and is ready to be pumped to the treatment plant for processing. .

For Cape Meares the raw water is drawn from Coleman Creek and is carefully monitored for a number of issues: 1) Biological contaminants such as cryptosporidium, and coliform, 2) Turbidity and insoluble chemical contaminants mainly due to runoff from rainfall in the watershed or landslides, and 3) Organic and inorganic chemical pollutants due to both naturally occurring compounds in the soil, and man-made processes such as the use of herbicides to control weeds throughout the watershed. Testing to insure against these problems is carried out using samples drawn by the OWD, and analyzed by an independent laboratory, under the direction of the Oregon Health
Authority (OHA).

The District recently completed an extensive upgrade of the distribution piping system throughout the district, resulting in increased flow levels and significant reduction in water loss due to leaks.