Drinking water quality · 2024
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 — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 21
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- PFOS
- Service area
- WA
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×)PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (2.9×)PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitPFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHpA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)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
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 4.7 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.93 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the 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 |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.39 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LMCLG | Within 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 | Within the limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 37 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 12 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 4 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 29 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 7.4 ug/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | Not detected ug/LRangeof Level Detected | None set | None detected |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA ('GenX chemicals'), a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound. | Not detected ng/LRangeVancouver Sampling Result | 10 ng/LMCL | None detected |
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LRangeVancouver Sampling Result | 10 ng/LMCL | None detected |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 1.8 %MaximumSystem-wide | 0 %MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 110 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 140 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 8.1MaximumSystem-wide | None set | 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 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: PFOS and PFOA. 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. 11 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?
2 contaminants in Vancouver, WA's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: PFOS (5.8× the limit); PFOA (3.1× 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.