Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Vancouver, WA tap water
21 contaminants were measured in the Vancouver, WA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 9 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 21
- Over federal limit
- 9
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- PFOS
- Service area
- WA
- PFOSPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Range0–23.1limit 4 · 5.8× the limit
- PFOAPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Range0–12.5limit 4 · 3.1× the limit
- pHPhysical & aggregate · Maximum8.1limit 6.5 · 1.2× the limit
- CalciumMetals · Maximum37 mg/Llimit 37 mg/L · 1.0× the limit
- MagnesiumMetals · Maximum12 mg/Llimit 12 mg/L · 1.0× the limit
- PotassiumMetals · Maximum4 mg/Llimit 4 mg/L · 1.0× the limit
- SodiumMetals · Maximum29 mg/Llimit 29 mg/L · 1.0× the limit
- AlkalinityPhysical & aggregate · Maximum110 mg/Llimit 110 mg/L · 1.0× the limit
- HardnessPhysical & aggregate · Maximum140 mg/Llimit 140 mg/L · 1.0× the limit
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
2 PFAS compounds above EPA limits in Vancouver, WA
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (4.6×)near national p90 (19.900000000000006 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (2.9×)near national p90 (13.649999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitnear national p90 (12.049999999999997 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (13.909999999999979 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHpA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (9.309999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (12.190000000000003 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Vancouver, WA's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 50 sources.
Source
- WS #1 WELL #5B WW BLR975
- WS #1 WELL #3B WW BQT883
- WS #9 WELL #5 WW
- WS #7 WELL #1 ABR665
- + 46 more
Treatment
- Water Station 1
- Water Station 3
- Water Station 4
- + 9 more
Distribution
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
12 historically-detected contaminants in Vancouver, WA
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
NITRATE worst: 2012 | 5.13 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2012 | 4.6 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'19 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2019 | 1 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '19 |
TTHM worst: 2019 | 0.0114 mg/L within | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2019 | 0.0024 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '12'15'16'18'19 |
COPPER worst: 2019 | 0.052 mg/L below national p90 | — | '19 |
DBAA worst: 2018 | 0.0011 mg/L | — | '18'19 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0012 mg/L | — | '12'15'16'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.00265 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2012 | 0.00095 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.00264 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.00206 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 8.1MaximumSystem-wide | 6.5MCL | At or above the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 110 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 110 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 140 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 140 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 37 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 37 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 12 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 12 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 4 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 29 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 29 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 2.2 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0 ug/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.2 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA ('GenX chemicals'), a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound. | Not detectedRangeVancouver Sampling Result | 10MCL | None detected |
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detectedRangeVancouver Sampling Result | 10MCL | None detected |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 1.8MaximumSystem-wide | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Vancouver, WA's water
+Is Vancouver, WA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Vancouver, WA water utility lists 9 contaminants at or above the federal limit: PFOS, PFOA, pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Alkalinity, and Hardness. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Vancouver, WA tap water?
21 contaminants were measured in Vancouver, WA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and physical & aggregate. 20 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Vancouver, WA tap water?
9 contaminants in Vancouver, WA's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: PFOS (5.8× the limit); PFOA (3.1× the limit); pH (1.2× the limit); Calcium (1.0× the limit); Magnesium (1.0× the limit); Potassium (1.0× the limit); Sodium (1.0× the limit); Alkalinity (1.0× the limit); Hardness (1.0× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Vancouver, WA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is PFOS, at 5.8× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Vancouver, WA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Vancouver, WA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.