Anacortes Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
2.7 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
95.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.12
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 Anacortes, your appliances are currently losing 6% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Anacortes | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -5% |
| Washing Machine | 11.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -1% |
| Water Heater | 13.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -8% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Anacortes compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Anacortes, Washington | 46 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Oak Harbor, Washington | 23 mg/L | 1.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Bellingham, Washington | 79 mg/L | 3.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Mount Vernon, Washington | 57 mg/L | 2.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Ferndale, Washington | 69 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Anacortes compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Anacortes | 46 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Anacortes's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Anacortes, Washington, in Skagit County — a Skagit County city on Fidalgo Island adjacent to Burlington and the San Juan Islands, a Puget Sound island city connected to the mainland by bridge — receives its municipal water from the City of Anacortes Water Division, drawing from the Skagit River watershed through Shannon Lake (Baker Lake system) in the North Cascades.
The very soft 46 mg/L hardness and low TDS of 95.7 mg/L reflect the North Cascades' predominantly insoluble crystalline drainage. The Skagit River headwaters (Ross Lake, Baker Lake — Skagit County) drain the North Cascades — Cretaceous Twin Sisters Dunite and Chilliwack Group (insoluble metamorphic), Precambrian Skagit Gneiss (insoluble crystalline), and Quaternary Cascades volcanic glacial outwash (insoluble basalt-andesite). The essentially non-calcareous North Cascades crystalline-volcanic drainage produces the very soft water.
At 46 mg/L, Anacortes' water is very soft — essentially no scale forms, soap lathers abundantly, and appliances maintain good efficiency. Annual descaling is sufficient. The PFAS level of 2.3 ppt is among the lowest for Pacific Northwest communities — reflecting the remote North Cascades watershed's limited PFAS sources. No special concerns at this level, though a certified filter is always a good practice.
Geology & Source: Anacortes in Skagit County draws from the Anacortes Water Division on the Skagit River (Baker Lake system, Skagit County) — the Skagit drains the North Cascades (Cretaceous North Cascades crystalline, Precambrian Skagit Gneiss) — Washington North Cascades Precambrian-Cretaceous crystalline watershed produces very soft water at 46 mg/L with TDS 95.7 mg/L in this Skagit County Washington city.