How does Canby's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Canby (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Canby Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

46.8 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Canby, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Canby	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Canby compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	Risk	Source
▶ Canby, Oregon	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Wilsonville, Oregon	≈ 0–60 mg/L	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Oregon City, Oregon	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	reservoir
West Linn, Oregon	≈ 0–60 mg/L	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Tualatin, Oregon	≈ 0–60 mg/L	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Canby compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Canby	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Canby's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 46.8 mg/LpH: 7.5

Canby Utility Water Company serves the city of Canby, Oregon, located in Clackamas County in the Willamette Valley. The utility operates as a municipal water system serving approximately 16,000–18,700 residents. The water supply originates from surface water sources, treated at the utility's treatment facilities before distribution to the service area. Emergency contact and customer service are available 24/7 at 503-266-1156, and the utility reports that its water meets all EPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) across its service area with all contaminants within safe levels.

The supply is drawn from the Willamette Valley watershed, shaped by Quaternary alluvial deposits overlying Tertiary volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The valley's geology and the influence of Pacific maritime precipitation patterns result in a moderately mineralized water supply. Unlike harder waters found in eastern Oregon's sedimentary formations, Canby's supply reflects the softer character typical of western Oregon's coastal-influenced regions, though with slightly elevated mineral content compared to Portland and Beaverton to the north.

At moderately hard levels, residents may notice subtle mineral deposits on glassware and fixtures and slightly reduced soap lather in some applications. Water softening is recommended for households with sensitive appliances, particularly dishwashers and water heaters, to extend equipment lifespan and improve cleaning efficiency. Regular maintenance of plumbing fixtures and periodic descaling of appliances is advisable to manage mineral buildup over time. The utility has historically reported potential concerns including DCPA degradates and other legacy contaminants, though current testing confirms compliance with federal drinking water standards.

Geology & Source: Willamette Valley surface water; Quaternary alluvial deposits overlying Tertiary volcanic and sedimentary rocks; Pacific maritime precipitation produces moderately mineralized water with elevated calcium and magnesium

Other Oregon Water Reports

Wilsonville

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Oregon City

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

West Linn

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Tualatin

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Canby's water safe to drink?

Yes. Canby's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Canby?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Canby's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Canby compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Canby (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Canby is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.