Hillsboro Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
109.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.14
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 Hillsboro, your appliances are currently losing 7% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Hillsboro | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -8% |
| Washing Machine | 11.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -3% |
| Water Heater | 13.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -11% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Hillsboro compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hillsboro, Oregon | 54 mg/L | 1.9 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Cornelius, Oregon | 38.5 mg/L | 1.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Forest Grove, Oregon | 91.5 mg/L | 2.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | 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 Hillsboro compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hillsboro | 54 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Hillsboro's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Hillsboro, Oregon — Washington County's largest city and the 'Silicon Forest' technology hub — draws its municipal water supply through the Joint Water Commission (JWC), a cooperative of Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Beaverton, sourcing from Henry Hagg Lake (Scoggins Reservoir on Scoggins Creek — a Tualatin River tributary) in Washington County's Chehalem Mountains, supplemented by wholesale water from the Portland Water Bureau Bull Run Watershed system. The JWC operates the Hillsboro Water Treatment Plant treating water from both sources. Water hardness measures 54 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Hillsboro's moderately soft supply reflects the combined geology of the Tualatin watershed and the Bull Run source water. Scoggins Creek and the upper Tualatin watershed drain the Oregon Coast Range — terrain underlain by Miocene–Pliocene Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG) flows, Oligocene–Miocene volcanic and sedimentary sequences, and the Willapa Hills' Coast Range basalt terrane — all siliceous to mafic volcanic rock formations with minimal carbonate content. The Bull Run wholesale component from Portland Water Bureau adds very soft Sierra–Cascade volcanic watershed water. The combined result is moderately soft supply throughout Washington County's Hillsboro zone.
With hardness at 54 mg/L, Hillsboro residents experience minimal to moderate scale challenges. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits slowly — bi-monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is sufficient. Dishwashers produce clean glassware with light rinse-aid use. Joint Water Commission consistently delivers water meeting all Oregon DEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Mixed supply from the Tualatin River watershed via the Joint Water Commission (JWC) of Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Beaverton — drawing from Barney Reservoir (Henry Hagg Lake on Scoggins Creek) and Bull Run Watershed Portland Water Bureau wholesale water; the Oregon Coast Range Miocene–Pliocene volcanic basalt and Coast Range sedimentary terrain produces moderately soft supply at 54 mg/L in Washington County.