Happy Valley Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
288.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.29
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 Happy Valley, your appliances are currently losing 14% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Happy Valley | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -28% |
| Washing Machine | 9.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -20% |
| Water Heater | 11.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -25% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Happy Valley compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Happy Valley, Oregon | 107.5 mg/L | 2.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Lents, Oregon | 48.5 mg/L | 1.7 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Oatfield, Oregon | 74.5 mg/L | 2.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Milwaukie, Oregon | 24.5 mg/L | 1.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Gresham, Oregon | 81 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Happy Valley compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Happy Valley | 107.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Happy Valley home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Happy Valley's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Happy Valley, Oregon, in Clackamas County — a Clackamas County city adjacent to Clackamas and Damascus, in the southeast Portland metropolitan area — receives its municipal water from Clackamas River Water or the Portland Water Bureau (through the Sunrise Water Authority or regional connections), drawing from the Clackamas River or the Bull Run Watershed supply.
The moderately hard 107.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 288.2 mg/L are harder than the typical pure Portland Bull Run supply (Portland: ~42 mg/L), suggesting Happy Valley receives primarily the Clackamas River supply rather than the Portland Bull Run watershed. The Clackamas River drains the Cascade Range through Quaternary basalt and Tertiary andesite-rhyolite volcanics — harder than the Bull Run's Oligocene basalt watershed. The Clackamas River geology produces moderately harder water than the ultra-soft Portland supply.
At 107.5 mg/L, Happy Valley's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 2.8 ppt is excellent — reflecting the protected Cascade watershed character and the limited direct PFAS industrial sources in the southeast Portland-Clackamas County corridor.
Geology & Source: Happy Valley in Clackamas County draws from the Clackamas River Water or Portland Water Bureau on the Bull Run Watershed (Mount Hood National Forest, Multnomah County) or the Clackamas River (Clackamas County) — both draining the Cascades (Tertiary basalt, Eocene volcanic) — Oregon Cascades volcanic and basalt watershed produces moderately hard water at 107.5 mg/L with TDS 288 mg/L in this Clackamas County Oregon city.