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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for VANCOUVER CITY OF • Updated September 2026
Grade C — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
VANCOUVER CITY OF has a mixed record — read the reasons below; the deductions come from real EPA violations, lead results or PFAS detections, not from a template.
Vancouver, WA tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records, mainly because of PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
Vancouver, WA tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records, mainly because of PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
VANCOUVER CITY OF's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 2.2 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2023-05-24 to 2024-05-15) detected PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA, with PFOA or PFOS at or above the 4 ppt federal MCL. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
No. EPA's SDWIS shows no violations of any kind for VANCOUVER CITY OF since 2016.
VANCOUVER CITY OF reports groundwater as its primary source and serves about 373,047 people (EPA PWSID WA5391200).
We recommend one. Reverse osmosis or a PFAS-certified carbon filter addresses the PFAS result.
Want to know what's really in your Vancouver tap water?
PFOA or PFOS was measured at or above EPA's 4 ppt limit in Vancouver's UCMR5 sampling.
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VANCOUVER CITY OF · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-13
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years.
No violations of any kind on file since 2016.
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by VANCOUVER CITY OF
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31), 90% of the homes VANCOUVER CITY OF sampled had lead at or below 2.2 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 2.2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2018-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | 1.7 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2015-01-01 → 2017-12-31 | 1.6 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2012-01-01 → 2014-12-31 | 2.4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2010-01-01 → 2011-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2007-01-01 → 2009-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2004-01-01 → 2006-12-31 | 4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2002-01-01 → 2002-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2001-01-01 → 2001-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1998-01-01 → 1998-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1997-01-01 → 1997-12-31 | 3.7 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1994-01-01 → 1994-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Copper 90th percentile: 1.4 mg/L (1992-01-01 → 1992-06-30); action level 1.3 mg/L.
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2023-05-24 to 2024-05-15 · 580 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
PFOA and PFOS measured at or above EPA's legal limit in at least one sample. Utilities have until 2029 (2031 under EPA's proposed extension) to comply with the 2024 PFAS rule, so a result above the MCL today is not yet a violation — but it is the number that matters for your health.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 10 / 20 | 11.5 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 16 / 20 | 18.6 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 16 / 20 | 6.6 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 20 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 20 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 14 / 20 | 7.6 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFHpA | 1 / 20 | 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFHxA | 8 / 20 | 7.3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFPeA | 8 / 20 | 7.4 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them → · Best filters for PFAS →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for VANCOUVER CITY OF · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples VANCOUVER CITY OF reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Every scored contaminant stayed within its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and averaged below 80% of the limit. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 100 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 10 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N) | 166154 detects | 3.639 mg/L | 5.13 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 109 detects | 0.535 mg/L | 1 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 100 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 100 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 9390 detects | 4.041 µg/L | 11.4 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 839 detects | 0.154 µg/L | 2.4 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving Vancouver will follow up - no obligation.
VANCOUVER CITY OF · 77,500 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
VANCOUVER CITY OF reports no lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines and has classified 100% of its 77,500 lines as non-lead. Lead can still come from pre-1986 plumbing and fixtures inside a home.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID WA5391200 · See all Washington lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Groundwater systems draw from wells; naturally occurring arsenic, nitrate, radium and uranium are the readings to watch, along with PFAS near industrial or military sites.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Vancouver homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Vancouver faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Vancouver households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
What Vancouver residents measured at their own tap (ZIPs 98660, 98661, 98662, 98663 +5 more). All reader results →
Reader submissions are unverified and shown separately from EPA data. They reflect one tap on one day, not the utility's compliance record.
No reader results for Vancouver yet - yours would be the first. A hardness or TDS number from a $10 strip kit is enough to start the map.
Help build the first reader-sourced water map. Enter whatever your test strip, TDS pen or lab report shows - one number is enough.
Vancouver ranks #4 of 4 graded Washington cities.
Deep-dive guides for the specific contaminants EPA data flagged in Vancouver's water, with removal options for each.
Vancouver, WA tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records, mainly because of PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
VANCOUVER CITY OF's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 2.2 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2023-05-24 to 2024-05-15) detected PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA, with PFOA or PFOS at or above the 4 ppt federal MCL. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
No. EPA's SDWIS shows no violations of any kind for VANCOUVER CITY OF since 2016.
VANCOUVER CITY OF reports groundwater as its primary source and serves about 373,047 people (EPA PWSID WA5391200).
We recommend one. Reverse osmosis or a PFAS-certified carbon filter addresses the PFAS result.
PFOA or PFOS was measured at or above EPA's 4 ppt limit in Vancouver's UCMR5 sampling.
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Based on contaminants detected in your water, these resources may be helpful:
Find the right filter for your Vancouver water quality needs:
Tap water is one piece of the picture — our sister sites cover the rest for Vancouver, WA.
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