Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Vancouver, Washington
Tap water in Vancouver, Washington receives a grade of F (51/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 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. 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 utility 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.
Recommended filters for Vancouver
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Vancouver's water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
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 |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
6.54 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 44× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
2.12 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.63 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 26× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.52 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.54 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.282 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
1.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
1.32 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.3× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0917 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.1× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.724 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Vanadium Other |
5.58 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0617 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
19.1 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 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 |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.113 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.656 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.109 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0444 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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.