How does West Linn's water compare to the national average?

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

West Linn 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

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

137.7 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 West Linn, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In West Linn	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 West Linn compares to its nearest neighbours

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

National Benchmark

How West Linn compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ West Linn	≈ 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 West Linn's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 137.7 mg/LpH: 7.2

The City of West Linn Water Utility (PWS #00944) serves over 26,000 residents in West Linn, Clackamas County, Oregon. The primary water source is surface water drawn directly from the Willamette River. The utility provides conventional treatment meeting EPA standards, serving the city and surrounding pressure zones including Rosemount. Annual Drinking Water Quality Reports are published at westlinnoregon.gov/publicworks/drinking-water-quality-reports. No specific treatment plant names are detailed in available reports.

West Linn's water originates in the Willamette River watershed flowing through the Portland Basin of northwest Oregon. The underlying geology is dominated by the Columbia River Basalt Group, a thick sequence of Miocene-age volcanic flood basalts, overlain by unconsolidated glacial and fluvial sediments. With no major carbonate aquifers present, the supply's soft character results from low dissolution of calcium and magnesium-bearing rocks, rainwater dilution, and river dynamics; regional basalt weathering imparts only moderate mineralization without significant hardness.

Soft water minimizes scale buildup, protecting water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers from mineral deposits. No significant limescale accumulates on fixtures or pipes, and soaps and detergents lather easily without excess product. A water softener is not recommended, as it could strip beneficial minerals and alter taste — filtration targeting contaminants is the better focus. The supply meets EPA legal limits, though it exceeds health advocacy guidelines for chromium-6, total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), nitrate, and nitrate+nitrite; TDS is 61 mg/L and an overall health score of C+/D has been noted.

Geology & Source: Willamette River watershed; Miocene Columbia River Basalt Group flood basalts dominate — no major carbonate aquifers; basalt weathering yields soft, low-mineral supply

Other Oregon Water Reports

Oregon City

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Gladstone

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Oatfield

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Oak Grove

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is West Linn's water safe to drink?

Yes. West Linn'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 West Linn?

West Linn'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 West Linn compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. West Linn (≈ 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 West Linn 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.