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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Milwaukie (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Milwaukie Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

40.8 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · 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 Milwaukie, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Milwaukie	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Milwaukie compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Milwaukie, Oregon	≈ 0–59 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Oak Grove, Oregon	≈ 0–60 mg/L	1.5 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Lake Oswego, Oregon	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Oatfield, Oregon	≈ 0–60 mg/L	2.2 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Gladstone, Oregon	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Milwaukie compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Milwaukie	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Milwaukie's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 40.8 mg/LpH: 7.2

The Milwaukie, City of water utility serves approximately 21,014 residents in Milwaukie, Clackamas County, Oregon. The supply is entirely groundwater sourced from local wells in the Portland Basin area. Treatment involves air stripping for volatile organics and chlorine disinfection, with no additional softening or major filtration processes. The utility can be reached at 503-786-7615 at 6101 SE Johnson Creek Blvd, Milwaukie, OR 97206, and the system meets all EPA standards per the 2026 water quality report.

The groundwater originates within the Portland Basin watershed, influenced by the Clackamas and Willamette River drainages. Key geology includes unconsolidated Quaternary alluvial gravels and sands overlying the Tertiary-age Troutdale Formation siltstones and sandstones, underlain by Miocene Columbia River Basalt. This volcanic and sedimentary sequence yields soft water with low dissolved minerals, as basalt weathers to clays without significant calcium or magnesium release, and alluvial recharge dilutes ions from limited sedimentary dissolution.

Soft water minimizes scale buildup on fixtures, pipes, and appliances like water heaters and dishwashers, reducing energy costs and maintenance needs. No significant limescale issues occur, so soap lathers easily without excess detergent use. A water softener is not recommended, as it could introduce sodium unnecessarily and strip beneficial minerals; routine cleaning of sediment filters is sufficient. Testing covers 76+ contaminants — all safe, with no PFAS exceedances noted — and pH is near neutral at around 7.3.

Geology & Source: Portland Basin aquifers; Quaternary alluvium and Troutdale Formation (Miocene-Pliocene sandstones/siltstones) overlying Columbia River Basalt Group (Miocene); basalt weathers to clay with minimal Ca/Mg release — soft groundwater

Other Oregon Water Reports

Oak Grove

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Lake Oswego

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Oatfield

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Gladstone

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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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 Milwaukie's water safe to drink?

Yes. Milwaukie's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Milwaukie?

Milwaukie's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Milwaukie compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Milwaukie (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 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 Milwaukie 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.