FAQs | Hermiston, OR

Aqua Fit

Splash your way into shape with an invigorating low-impact aquatic exercise. Known as the Zumba® “pool party,” the Aqua Zumba program gives new meaning to the idea of a refreshing workout. Integrating the Zumba philosophy with traditional aquatic fitness disciplines, Aqua Zumba® blends it all together into workout that’s cardio-conditioning, body-toning, and most of all, exhilarating beyond belief.
Lap lanes will be set up for varying speeds of swimmers. All swimmers must circle swim in appropriate lanes. Your body will really enjoy this great aerobic workout. Kickboards and pool buoys are available during this time.
High Intensity: This workout will be done in the Multi-Use pool and the 50 meter deep end. Hydro belts, dumbbells, and more are supplied. A lazy river workout is included.

Low Impact: This great workout will be done in the Multi-Use Pool. Hydro belts, dumbbells, and more are supplied. A lazy river workout is included.
Water Walking is based in the Lazy River. All abilities are welcome. This is a great low impact workout for anyone. The Lazy River has a current and you are welcome to walk with or against the current.

Aquatic Center

Click here to for a complete set of pool rules.
Personal sized coolers are allowed. Size must not exceed 14"L x 10"W x 12"H. No glass or alcohol.
Our facility does allow outside food. No alcohol or glass is permitted on property, including the parking area. Food must be consumed in designated eating areas which are away from the pool deck. Please remember to clean up after yourself, throw away or recycle all trash. Large party platters, soft coolers filled with food, pizza and other like items are restricted to the personal cooler guidelines. Rental of the picnic shelter or the lazy river umbrella allows outside food such as party platters and pizza.

We also have a full concession stand with food, treats and drinks!
Yes, all patrons entering the facility must pay the entrance fee per Oregon Public Health Division.
We do not allow inflatable toys due to the potential dangers they may cause. Dive rings are okay. The lazy river will not hold large inflatables.
Lifejackets and puddle jumpers must be Coast Guard approved. Our friendly staff will check your device to make sure it is approved for the facility. Please call us if you have a question if your device is Coast Guard approved. Parents/Guardians must be within arms reach of a child in a lifejacket/puddle jumper.

It is well recognized that even children who are comfortable and experienced using a lifejacket can become a victim to drowning/near drowning in lifeguarded facilities. Assuming the lifejacket is fitted and worn properly it can still be a danger. This is because a lifejacket can and often will raise the feet of a person off of the floor of the pool as it takes over and begins the floatation of the person. When this occurs the lifejacket can either flip the person onto their back or onto their face. It is more common for it to flip them forward than backwards. If a child does not have the skill needed to flip themselves over onto their back it is difficult for them to even lift their face out of the water. It is recommended that lifejackets be used as one layer of protection but that they should not replace the touch supervision of a child under the age of 5. The leading cause of death in the United States for ages 1-4 is drowning.

We do not allow arm floaties as they are not a Coast Guard approved floatation device.
Day use lockers are available in our locker rooms. We sell locks for $5.
Yes, there are extra picnic tables scattered around the facility.
We offer several options for private parties. Click here to go to our Rental’s page.
Umbrellas and small pop-up tents are allowed. Pop-up shade canopies (ex: 10x10 canopies) are not allowed. We do have areas with shade covers and you can reserve - the Lazy River Rental and Picnic Shelter.
Disposable or reusable diapers are okay in the pool. We sell the reusable type at the pool. We also sell sunscreen, goggles, and locks.
The HFAC may close or specific pools may be closed down unexpectedly due to various instances, such as:
- Lighting within 25 miles
- AQI Air Index over 200 (smokey air)
- Code Brown - foreign matter in the pool
- Low patron count (typically due to low temperatures)
- Other unforeseen circumstances
If a pool is closed, staff gives it their best effort to get the pool back open in a reasonable amount of time based on the standards set by the State of Oregon.
Only service animals are allowed into the pool area. They must be 10’ from the water. Waste removal is the responsibility of the animal’s owner. If the animal exhibits aggressive behavior towards others, the patron and animal may be asked to leave. If you are traveling with a pet, consider checking with our local veterinary offices about day kenneling.

Backflow Prevention Frequently Asked Questions

For questions not answered above regarding backflow, please contact the City of Hermiston Water Department at 541-567-5521.
No, if they are not also a licensed plumber. The State requires that a licensed plumber (or the owner) do the repair or replacement. Many licensed plumbers are also certified to perform the test. If your device fails the test, once it's repaired or replaced it must be tested to ensure it is working properly.
Backflow assemblies must be tested at the time of installation, annually after installation, after repairs and after relocating.
Yes, where a cross-connection and/or backflow can occur. The State of Oregon requires backflow prevention devices to be installed, then tested annually to protect the health & safety of the public water system. In order to meet state law, the City is required to moniter testing of the devices
A backflow preventer is a means or mechanism to prevent backflow, basically keeping water from flowing backwards into the public water main. The basic means of preventing backflow is an air gap, which either eliminates a cross-connection or provides a barrier to backflow. The basic mechanism for preventing backflow is a mechanical backflow preventer, which provides a physical barrier to backflow. The principal types of mechanical backflow preventer are the reduced-pressure principle assembly, the pressure vacuum breaker assembly, and the double check valve assembly. A secondary type of mechanical backflow preventer is the residential dual check valve.
A cross-connection is any temporary or permanent connection between a public water system or consumer's potable (i.e., drinking) water system and any source or system containing nonpotable water or other substances that are not safe to drink or may impact the taste or odor of water. Common cross connections include hot tubs, pools, sprinkler & irrigation systems & auxiliary water systems (wells).
An air gap is a vertical, physical separation between the end of a water supply outlet and the flood-level rim of a receiving vessel. This separation must be at least twice the diameter of the water supply outlet and never less than one inch. An air gap is considered the maximum protection available against backpressure ro backsiphonage but is not always practical and can easily be bypassed.
Backflow is the undesirabble reversal of flow of nonpotable water or other substances through a cross-connection and into the piping of a public water system or consumer's potable water system. There are two types of backflow... backpressure backflow and backsiphonage.
Backpressure backflow is backflow caused by a downstream pressure that is greater than the upstream or supply pressure in a public water system or consumer's potable water system. Backpressure (i.e., downstream pressure that is greater then the potable water supply pressure) can result from an increase in downstream pressure, a reduction in the potable water supply pressure, or a combination of both. Increases in downstream pressure can be created by pumps, temperature increases in boilers, etc. Reductions in potable water supply pressure occur whenever the amount of water being used exceeds the amount of water being supplied, such as during water line flushing, fire fighting, or breaks in water mains
Backsiphonage is backflow caused by a negative pressure (i.e., a vacuum ~ or partial vacuum) in a Public water system or consumer's potable water system. The effect is similar to drinking water through a straw. Backsiphonage can occur when there is a stoppage of water supply due to nearby fire fighting, a break in a water main, etc.
An Oregon State Certified tester can test your device.
Backflow into a public water system can pollute or contaminate the water in that system (i.e., backflow into a public water system can make the water in that system unusable or unsafe to drink), and each water supplier has a responsibility to provide water that is usable and safe to drink under all foreseeable circumstances. Furthermore, consumers generally have absolute faith that water delivered to them through a public water system is always safe to drink. For these reasons, each water supplier must take reasonable precautions to protect its public water system against backflow.

Bouncin' Bins Inflatable Fun Run

You will pick up a packet at the start of the race with the wave information on it. Waves will be assigned with the prompted people you want to run with. (No guarantees you will be in the same wave).
You will pick up a packet at the start of the race with the wave information on it. Waves will be assigned with the prompted people you want to run with. (No guarantees you will be in the same wave).
We are implementing waves for the safety of all our runners. The obstacles may get crowded depending on ability levels of participants. Hopefully, the waves will help spread people out and wait times reduced.

Business Licenses

Generally, remote workers who simply work from home for out-of-town companies which are doing work which is primarily outside of Hermiston, are not considered to be “doing business” in Hermiston.
Certain businesses may be exempt, including certain government activities and specific nonprofit organizations. Refer to § 119.05 for a complete list of exemptions.
Yes, some examples include:
- Youth-run businesses: A child selling cookies or lemonade on the sidewalk for a few days is not required to get a license.
- Part of a licensed business: Independent contractors (like beauticians) working under a larger, licensed business do not need their own license if the larger business includes them for the purposes of calculating FTE for their own license.
- Garage sales: Exempt unless the sale exceeds 72 hours or the individual holds more than 5 garage sales in a year.
- Non-profits and government entities: These are not required to pay the fee, but their private contractors/vendors who are not considered employees of the non-profit or government entity, must obtain licensing and pay all fees.
See § 119.14 for more details.
A prime contractor may obtain a single business license for large projects involving multiple subcontractors, where the prime contractor applies for the license in lieu of each subcontractor getting a separate license. This applies to construction projects as defined in § 119.13.
Yes, authorized City officials can inspect business premises to ensure compliance with licensing regulations. If access is denied, the City may seek a warrant. This is explained in § 119.14.
Generally, each distinct business operation requires its own license.
Yes, promoters of trade shows or carnivals must apply for a special license as outlined in § 119.12. This license is necessary to allow vendors to operate under one umbrella for a short time.
You can complete the online application form here.
A business license is valid for the calendar year in which it is issued, and renewal is required each January. Refer to § 119.09 for more details.
The City will use software to administer and track business licenses. City officials will monitor compliance, and businesses may face penalties for failing to obtain a license. The fee will be due annually on January 1, and businesses will need to renew their license each year.
Violations can result in fines of up to $1,000 per offense. Ongoing violations may lead to further legal action. See § 119.14 for more details.
If your business is found to be operating without a valid license or in violation of the rules, it may be subject to fines, abatement, or other penalties. For further details, refer to § 119.14.
You have the right to appeal the decision. The appeal must be filed within 15 days of the denial, suspension, or revocation. The appeal process is outlined in § 119.11.
A business license is required for any person or entity conducting business within the City of Hermiston. This includes operating a business from home, and businesses located elsewhere which may temporarily doing business within Hermiston. Please refer to § 119.04 for specific license requirements.
The fee is based on the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees a business has, and whether the business has a permanent location within city limits. Use the calculator on the Business Licenses page.

EOTEC

At this time yes, you can bring in an outside caterer or food, but in the near future, we will have a preferred catering list from which guests can order. Once the preferred catering list is implemented, outside caterers and food will not be allowed.

For outdoor events, we have spots for food trucks, however, additional fees will be incurred based on power and water usage.
Yes, we have a full kitchen that can be rented for use during your event for caterers or to prepare your own food. However, in the near future, we will have a preferred catering list from which guests can order. Once the preferred catering list is implemented, outside caterers and food will not be allowed.
No hard alcohols are allowed on the grounds unless approved by EOTEC’s General Manager, with additional fees. Wine, champagne and beer are allowed, but they must be served by a licensed server and must be in clear cups. All other non-alcoholic beverages can be served in any style cup.
To book a venue, submit your event info through the form on the website. We will contact you if additional information is needed or if the venue is not available for your chosen dates. If no other information is needed, we will email you a contract to sign and return with a deposit.
You can make credit card payments over the phone or at our on-site administrative office. If you want to pay by cash or check, please stop by our administrative office.
No, we do not offer payment plans. A down payment is required with the contract, with the full balance due two weeks prior to the event date.
Should we determine that a reasonable basis exists for concluding that there has a been a default, non-performance, or breach of any of the warranties, terms or conditions of this agreement by the client, or that the client has abandoned or cancelled the event, EOTEC has the sole and complete discretion to declare the event cancelled and EOTEC shall be authorized to retain the client’s initial deposit. The client shall also pay on demand to EOTEC any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by EOTEC in connection with such cancelled event.

Should the client decide to cancel, written notice is required. Upon receipt of the client’s written notice of cancellation, management will determine if a refund of the deposit is warranted and we will invoice the client for all applicable rental fees. Such fees will be due and payable 30 days from the date of invoice.
EOTEC staff does not decorate. You may decorate yourself for your event or bring in a decorator. Please refer to the contract for a list of all rules regarding decorating.
If the venue is available the day before your event, access for decorating can be arranged for an additional fee, based on your overall charges.
EOTEC staff does not decorate. You may decorate for your event yourself or bring in a decorator. Please refer to the contract for a list of all rules regarding decorating.
Regular, flame-lit candles are not allowed within any of our venues. However, you can bring in battery-powered candles for your event.
The meeting rooms and exhibit hall (Great Room) have a projector and screen within each room, along with an A/V cart for hooking up your laptop via HDMI or VGA. Each access point is $30.
We do not have bride or groom rooms. However, you can rent one of the meeting rooms, which can serve this purpose.
No, there are not dressing rooms at the rodeo grounds.
We keep items found after an event for two weeks and contact the client to let them know. After two weeks, the items are discarded or donated to the local Goodwill.

Parks & Recreation

We do not typically rent out an entire park. We only rent the shelters. On a case by case basis, we may look at the event happening and make a consideration. Please come in to the Community Center with event information ready to discuss.
Shelters can be reserved HERE!
Please visit the Teach a Recreation Class! page for more information. We are ALWAYS looking for additional instructors and classes!
Typically, the Butte Spray Park (splash pad) is open Memorial Day through Labor Day 11am-7pm.
You can find sports schedules and roster information at: bit.ly/hermistonrec_sports. Check your receipt for when rosters will be released!

Pickleball Courts

Courts are open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Only those authorized by Hermiston Parks & Recreation are permitted. A schedule of approved leagues, lessons, and tournaments will be posted on the on-site bulletin board.
- Private instruction, outside leagues, or tournaments are not allowed without prior written approval.
- Failure to comply may result in removal from the facility and may be considered trespassing.
For event authorization, please contact Hermiston Parks & Recreation.
Yes. To ensure fair access:
- Warm-up/rally is limited to 5 minutes.
- Maximum game play is to 11 points or 20 minutes, whichever comes first.
- Follow the "4 on, 4 off" rule when courts are full.
Yes, any player may respectfully remind others to follow posted court rules.
When courts are full, players are asked to be mindful of the posted skill levels on each court and select courts that best match their current ability. This helps ensure the most enjoyable and competitive experience for everyone.

Please note:
- Players on skill-specific courts will play at their highest competitive level and may not adjust for lower-level players.
- When courts are not full, players of any skill level may use any available court.
Each court is limited to 2 to 4 players at a time.
No, the courts are free and open to the public, unless otherwise posted for events or maintenance. Courts are available to rent. Contact Hermiston Parks & Rec office for more info.
- Non-marking tennis shoes are required.
- No glass, food, or dogs are allowed on the courts.
- Please leave bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades outside the facility.
- Your own pickleballs.
The complex is managed and maintained by Hermiston Parks & Recreation. For inquiries or reservation requests, contact us!

Recycling

There are still many challenges to be worked through in order to understand the full costs of the program, how much funding will be provided by the PRO for startup and operations, and therefore how much will remain to be the responsibility of local recycling customers.
The RMA introduces Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) to shift the financial burden from end-users to producers. Producers of recyclable materials are required to join a PRO, which will collect fees from them. These funds will be remitted to the state and used to cover the costs of recycling programs, including collection, sorting, and transportation. However, it is anticipated that funds from the PRO will not cover all startup or operational costs, and that there will be an increased monthly charge for customers.
Several challenges need to be addressed, including:
- Finalizing detailed Needs Assessments to determine precise infrastructure and cost requirements.
- Establishing end-markets for recyclable materials to plan appropriate collection and transportation logistics.
- Determining the financial contributions from producer fees versus local user fees.
- Understanding the projected revenues from producer fees to plan and implement recycling programs effectively.
The Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) passed by the Oregon Legislature requires cities with a population over 4,000 to begin offering curbside recycling by July 1, 2025. This act aims to enhance recycling efforts across Oregon by establishing a comprehensive framework for the collection, sorting, and recycling of materials.
The Circular Action Alliance (CAA), based in Washington, D.C., is the sole PRO selected by the State of Oregon to manage the recycling responsibilities under the RMA. CAA is responsible for collecting fees from producers, planning and implementing recycling programs, and working with local governments to meet recycling needs.
Several key steps have been taken:
- The state has been working on creating a statewide list of recyclable materials to reduce confusion and contamination.
- A preliminary Needs Assessment was conducted with local governments to identify specific requirements for recycling infrastructure.
- The Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is now refining the Needs Assessment to develop accurate cost estimates and create a fee structure for producers.
Funding from the producer fees collected by CAA is expected to become available after July 1, 2025. The fee structure is anticipated to be established in early 2025, with a lag time for charging, collecting, accounting, and disbursing the funds to local jurisdictions.

Search Tips and Tricks

Yes. The website indexes web pages as well as PDFs, Microsoft Office documents, and text documents.
No. By default, the search results will show matches for any word within the phrase. In this example, you would receive results for all web pages and documents that contained either the word alarm or the word permit or both.

In order to search on an exact phrase, enclose your search phrase in quotations. The search results for "alarm permit" will show matches for that exact phrase.
Yes. You can exclude words by using the minus sign (-). In order to find the results of all pages that have alarm in the result but not permit, you would search for alarm -permit.

Water Service Line Testing

The City has hired North Cascade Excavating to perform this work on 350 customers at a cost of $198,715.
The EPA has published a goal to require public drinking water providers to replace all water service lines containing lead by 2034. The results of this inventory will be used by the City to prioritize any future work to replace service lines.
The contractor will use appropriate care to ensure minimal disruption to the area necessary to complete the work, and is required to return the area as near as possible to it’s original condition. The contractor will also be taking “before” and “after” photos of each site. Impacted properties are encouraged to take their own pictures, with a time/date-stamp, of the area surrounding the meter box prior to work beginning.
A contractor hired by the City is digging down to expose the line directly in front of and directly behind the water meter. Once the line is exposed, they will perform a scratch test and a magnetism test to determine the type of material the pipe is made of.
The City is required to supply this information to the EPA no later than October 1, 2024.
The EPA is allowing cities to use a statistically valid sample of all water service connections which were installed prior to 1986. In Hermiston that equates to approximately 3,000 connections. From those accounts, 350 customers were selected utilizing a computer-based random number generator. This method provides EPA with an acceptable understanding of the prevalence of different types of service line materials in our community while containing costs.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required all public drinking water systems in the United States to conduct these tests in order to develop an inventory of materials present in water service lines. Specifically, the test will show how many service lines may contain lead.
Upon completion of the inventory, a customer may, upon request and verification of customer identity, receive the results of the test for their home.
It usually takes about a week once the contractor starts to complete the testing and return the property to its original condition.