Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Vancouver, Washington
Tap water in Vancouver, Washington receives a grade of D (61/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 2 public water systems, primarily VANCOUVER CITY OF. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline; Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Vancouver's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utilities serving Vancouver.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 4.36 ppt, 4360x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal PFOS and PFOA detected at 20.9 ppt, 2986x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected at 4.64 ppt, 52x above the EWG health guideline of 0.09 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.752 ppb, 188x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for VANCOUVER CITY OF (system ID WA5391200) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Water systems serving Vancouver
Vancouver is served by 2 public water systems. Click any utility to see its complete grade card and treatment plant contact info.
VANCOUVER CITY OF
- PFAS contamination
- Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
- Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
CLARK PUBLIC UTILITIES
- PFAS contamination
- Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
- Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Recommended filters for Vancouver
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Vancouver's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in Vancouver's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
4.64 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
11.1 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
4.36 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 4360× over |
| Total PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
20.9 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 2986× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.752 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 188× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
10.4 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 69× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.45 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 48× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
2.12 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
2.84 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 28× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.65 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.55 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.63 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 26× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.446 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 22× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.31 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 6.2× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
1.32 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.3× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.283 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.8× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.508 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.5× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.19 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.4× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.283 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.0× over |
| Vanadium Other |
11.3 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
90.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0617 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
9.03 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.152 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.76 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
4.29 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.9 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.656 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00158 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.129 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.109 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0444 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0345 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| PFOS + PFOA + PFHxS + PFNA PFAS |
26.1 ppt | — | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from VANCOUVER CITY OF.