Hardness
Moderately Hard
97.2 PPM · 5.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Vancouver, WA 98682
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Clark County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Vancouver City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Clark County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0022 mg/L
15% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 373,047 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
97.2 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
97.2
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
5.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 97.2 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
5
Nearest site
50.4 mi
Observation range
Jul 11, 2016–Aug 25, 2016
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 03N/11E-21E01 PAS19 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 98682 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Vancouver median
97 PPM
About the same7 indexed ZIP readings · Range 97.2–110 PPM
Washington median
104 PPM
7 PPM lower189 indexed ZIP readings · Range 20.6–238 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0022 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
Copper (CU90)
1.4 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 1992
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0022
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.4
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 0
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
No violation record was returned for the associated systems in the imported lookback window beginning Jan 1, 2021.
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Vancouver ZIP 98682 using 97.2 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile) has a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Vancouver
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Vancouver
Is tap water safe in Vancouver?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 97.2 PPM, or 5.7 grains per gallon, classified as moderately hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.