Forest Grove Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
227.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.24
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 Forest Grove, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Forest Grove | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -22% |
| Washing Machine | 10.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -15% |
| Water Heater | 11.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -21% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Forest Grove compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Forest Grove, Oregon | 91.5 mg/L | 2.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Cornelius, Oregon | 38.5 mg/L | 1.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Hillsboro, Oregon | 54 mg/L | 1.9 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Aloha, Oregon | 68.5 mg/L | 2.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Bethany, Oregon | 71.5 mg/L | 2.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Forest Grove compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Forest Grove | 91.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Forest Grove's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Forest Grove, Oregon, in Washington County in the northwestern Tualatin Valley, receives its municipal water from the Forest Grove Light & Power Department and Tualatin Valley Water District (TVWD), which draws from the Tualatin River watershed and supplementary Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) bulk supply. The Tualatin River originates in the Oregon Coast Range and flows eastward through Washington County's agricultural and suburban landscape before joining the Willamette River at Tualatin. Forest Grove is the westernmost major city in Washington County, positioned at the valley's gateway to the Coast Range foothills.
The moderately soft 91.5 mg/L hardness and somewhat elevated TDS of 227.7 mg/L reflect the Tualatin watershed's Coast Range geology — distinctly different from the ultra-soft Cascade-sourced supplies found to the east. The Tualatin basin drains the Eocene Siletz River Volcanics and Tillamook Volcanic Series — ancient sea floor basalt and submarine volcanic formations with some calcareous marine sediment intercalations (foraminifera-rich chalks and limestone lenses). These calcareous marine sedimentary layers introduce modest calcium content that softly-volcanic Cascade sources lack, producing the somewhat harder supply Forest Grove receives compared to, for example, Woodburn's North Santiam supply (30.5 mg/L).
At 91.5 mg/L, Forest Grove has moderately soft water — comfortable for everyday household use without treatment. Soap lathers well, appliances accumulate scale gradually over months, and glassware from the dishwasher shows minimal spotting. Semi-annual descaling of kettles and coffee machines is adequate. The very low PFAS level of 2.5 ppt is a genuine highlight for this community — Washington County's Tualatin Valley is largely agricultural and residential, with limited industrial PFAS sources, and Forest Grove benefits from one of the cleanest PFAS profiles in the Portland metropolitan region.
Geology & Source: Forest Grove in Washington County draws from the Tualatin River watershed — the Tualatin basin drains the Oregon Coast Range through Eocene Siletz River Volcanics and calcareous marine sedimentary formations with limestone intercalations — coastal volcanic and marine geology produces moderately soft water at 91.5 mg/L, harder than Cascade volcanic supplies but well below inland carbonate regions.