The Dalles Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
1.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
36.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.06
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 The Dalles, your appliances are currently losing 3% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In The Dalles | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | — |
| Washing Machine | 12.8 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 14.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -2% |
Regional Water Comparison
How The Dalles compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ The Dalles, Oregon | 22.5 mg/L | 1.2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| West Valley, Washington | 20 mg/L | 1.5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Washougal, Washington | 75 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Troutdale, Oregon | 66 mg/L | 2.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Yakima, Washington | 46.5 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How The Dalles compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ The Dalles | 22.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes The Dalles's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
The Dalles, Oregon, in Wasco County — the Wasco County seat adjacent to Hood River and Mosier on the Columbia River in the Columbia River Gorge — receives its municipal water from The Dalles Water Division, drawing from the Columbia River (Wasco County) through the north-central Oregon water treatment system.
The very soft 22.5 mg/L hardness and extremely low TDS of 36.6 mg/L reflect the Columbia River's large-volume dilution of Cascade volcanic snowmelt runoff — the Columbia at The Dalles carries enormous discharge from the essentially insoluble Cascade volcanic watershed. The Columbia River at Wasco County drains the Cascade Range — Eocene Columbia River Basalt (massive basalt flows — insoluble), Pliocene Boring Lava (basalt — insoluble), and Pleistocene glacial outwash (minimal mineral loading). The massive dilution volume and insoluble Cascade volcanic geology produce the very soft north-central Oregon supply.
At 22.5 mg/L, The Dalles' water is very soft — no scale forms, soap lathers abundantly, and appliances maintain excellent efficiency. Annual descaling is sufficient. The PFAS level of 1.2 ppt is very low — the Wasco County Columbia River Gorge corridor has no significant AFFF military sources, and the Columbia River at The Dalles is well upstream of the major Portland metro PFAS inputs.
Geology & Source: The Dalles in Wasco County draws from the The Dalles Water Division on the Columbia River (Wasco County, north-central Oregon) — the Columbia at The Dalles receives snowmelt draining the Cascade Range (Eocene Columbia River Basalt — insoluble) and Blue Mountains (mixed) — Oregon Wasco County Columbia River Cascade volcanic watershed produces very soft water at 22.5 mg/L with TDS 36.6 mg/L.