Canby Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
1.6 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
46.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.07
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · 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 Canby, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Canby | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | — |
| Washing Machine | 12.6 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 14.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -3% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Canby compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Canby, Oregon | 27.5 mg/L | 1.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Wilsonville, Oregon | 14.5 mg/L | 1.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Oregon City, Oregon | 53.5 mg/L | 1.8 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| West Linn, Oregon | 64 mg/L | 2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Tualatin, Oregon | 67 mg/L | 2.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Canby compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Canby | 27.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Canby's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Canby, Oregon, in Clackamas County — a Clackamas County city adjacent to Oregon City and Aurora on the Molalla River in the northern Willamette Valley — receives its municipal water from the Canby Utility Board, drawing from the Molalla River (Clackamas County) through the Canby water treatment system.
The very soft 27.5 mg/L hardness and very low TDS of 46.8 mg/L are among the softest water supply readings in the USA dataset. The Molalla River drains the Oregon Cascades — Quaternary High Cascades basalt and andesite (mafic volcanic — insoluble, produces inherently very soft water), the Western Cascades tuffaceous volcanics (insoluble), and the Willamette Valley alluvial fill. The predominantly mafic volcanic geology produces one of the softest river supplies in the Pacific Northwest.
At 27.5 mg/L, Canby's water is exceptionally soft — no scale forms, soap lathers very abundantly, and all appliances operate at maximum efficiency. Annual maintenance is sufficient. The PFAS level of 1.4 ppt is among the lowest in the dataset — the Clackamas County rural-agricultural Willamette Valley setting, the Molalla River's remote Cascade headwaters, and the limited industrial PFAS sources in the north Willamette Valley produce Canby's very clean water profile.
Geology & Source: Canby in Clackamas County draws from Canby Utility Board on the Molalla River (Clackamas County, Oregon) — the Molalla drains the Oregon Cascades (Quaternary High Cascades basalt — insoluble mafic) — Oregon Clackamas County Molalla River Cascade volcanic watershed produces very soft water at 27.5 mg/L with TDS 46.8 mg/L in this Clackamas County Oregon city.