Vancouver, WA Water Quality Report

Is Vancouver tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Vancouver, Washington. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Vancouver tap water safe to drink? Vancouver tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 0.01 ppt across 7 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Vancouver water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Vancouver water: PFOS (0.02 ppt), PFHxA (0.01 ppt), PFHxS (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Vancouver? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Vancouver Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Vancouver drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 0.02 ppt across 2 water systems, representing an average of 0.01 ppt across 7 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFOS: 0.02 ppt
  • PFHxA: 0.01 ppt
  • PFHxS: 0.01 ppt
  • PFOA: 0.01 ppt
  • PFBS: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Vancouver Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 15 lead samples for Vancouver water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0147 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

EPA Violations in Vancouver

Vancouver public water systems have 1 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violation on record, including Lead. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Vancouver: approximately 190,915.

ZIP Codes Served

98660, 98661, 98662, 98663, 98664

What Vancouver Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually