We read 13 results from Vancouver City of’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 4 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 373,047 people · Water system ID WA5391200 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2025 report | 0.39 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal1.3x the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2025 report | 2.2 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal11x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 11 · Water stations · 2025 report | 11 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20292.8x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| PFOS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 19 · Water stations · 2025 report | 19 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20294.8x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| Chlorinehighest measured · range 0.4 to 1.3 · Distribution system · 2025 report | 1.3 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · Distribution system · 2025 report | Not detected | None set | 60 ppb | Not detected |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 4 to 14 · Distribution system · 2025 report | 9.5 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.22 to 0.67 · Groundwater sources · 2025 report | 0.67 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range ND to 4.8 · Groundwater sources · 2025 report | 4.8 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 5.9 · Water stations · 2025 report | 5.9 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| pHhighest measured · range 7.6 to 8.2 · Groundwater sources · 2025 report | 8.2 | — | — | Normal range |
| Total coliform bacteriahighest month · Distribution system · 2025 report | Not detected | 0 % positive | 5 % positive | Not detected |
| PFBS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 8.8 · Water stations · 2025 report | 8.8 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Vancouver City of’s water between May 2023 and May 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA11.5 pptFound in 10 of 20 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS18.6 pptFound in 16 of 20 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS6.6 pptFound in 16 of 20 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS7.6 pptFound in 14 of 20 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Lead
Found: Copper, Lead
What removes it: Reverse osmosis or Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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