Steveston Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
106.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.14
energy & soap waste
Source: Health Canada Water Quality · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Steveston, your appliances are currently losing 7% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Steveston | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -7% |
| Washing Machine | 11.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -3% |
| Water Heater | 13.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -10% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Steveston compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Mineralization | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Steveston, British Columbia | 53 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
| Seafair, British Columbia | 86 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Blundell, British Columbia | 44.5 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
| Thompson, British Columbia | 64 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Broadmoor, British Columbia | 41 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
National Benchmark
How Steveston compares to the Canada average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Steveston | 53 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| Canada National Avg | 141 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Vancouver Top Rated | 3 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Steveston's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Steveston (a historic fishing village at the southwest tip of Lulu Island in Richmond, BC — home to the Steveston Heritage Fisherman's Wharf, one of Canada's busiest salmon cannery heritage sites and a tourism destination on the Fraser River's south arm) receives its drinking water through the City of Richmond, purchasing bulk supply from Metro Vancouver (GVWD) — sourced from the protected Capilano, Seymour, and Coquitlam mountain watersheds. Water is treated at the Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant using ozonation, biofiltration, UV disinfection, and chloramination, fully meeting the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ). Hardness in the Steveston distribution zone is 53 mg/L (3.1 gpg) — classified as soft by Health Canada.
Steveston's 53 mg/L — slightly higher than Vancouver core sub-zones (South Granville 16.5 mg/L, Marpole 44.5 mg/L) — reflects the extended Metro Vancouver transmission distance to Richmond's Fraser River delta location. The long distribution mains running south from the Metro Vancouver transmission infrastructure to Richmond's southern tip introduce additional residence time and minor mineral accumulation from distribution infrastructure. The fundamental supply remains the same Coast Mountain granodiorite and gneiss watershed water, naturally very low in dissolved minerals.
With 53 mg/L of hardness, Steveston homes are essentially scale-free — occasional kettle cleaning every three months is sufficient. Hot water tanks have an excellent operational lifespan. The City of Richmond provides water quality information at richmond.ca. Steveston's mix of heritage commercial buildings and newer residential development benefits from Metro Vancouver's consistent soft water supply and Health Canada lead precautionary guidance for older properties in the historic Steveston village core.
Geology & Source: Supplied by City of Richmond from Metro Vancouver (GVWD) mountain reservoir water — the Steveston south Richmond distribution zone retains soft Coast Mountain character at 53 mg/L (3.1 gpg), slightly elevated above Vancouver core zones through extended Fraser River delta transmission mains.