How does Five Corners's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Five Corners (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Five Corners Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

200.4 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · 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 Five Corners, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Five Corners	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Five Corners compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Five Corners, Washington	≈ 120–179 mg/L	3.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Orchards, Washington	≈ 120–179 mg/L	1.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Salmon Creek, Washington	≈ 120–179 mg/L	2.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Hazel Dell, Washington	≈ 120–179 mg/L	3.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Vancouver, Washington	≈ 60–120 mg/L	471.6 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Five Corners compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Five Corners	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Five Corners's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 200.4 mg/LpH: 7.7

Clark Public Utilities (CPU) provides water to Five Corners, a census-designated place in Clark County, Washington, serving approximately 20,973 residents as of the 2020 census. The utility sources water from a mix of groundwater wells tapping local aquifers in the Troutdale Formation and surface water from the Lewis River watershed. Treatment occurs at CPU's facilities, including the Northwest Filtration Plant and several wellhead treatment sites, with extensive year-round testing for over 100 substances as detailed in annual Water Quality Reports available online or by request at 360-992-3000.

The supply draws from the Lewis River watershed within the Columbia River Basin, underlain by the Troutdale Formation — a Miocene to Pleistocene sedimentary sequence of sands, gravels, and volcaniclastic deposits from Cascade Range erosion. Glacial outwash layers overlay these formations, creating productive aquifers recharged by regional precipitation and river infiltration. Basalt weathering dominates, releasing calcium and magnesium into the water and producing a hard supply characteristic of Pacific Northwest valley fills.

At hard levels, scale buildup is common in dishwashers, water heaters, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan; faucets and fixtures may develop stubborn deposits. Boilers and pipes face accelerated wear, increasing energy costs by up to 20–30%. Regular vinegar descaling, installing scale-inhibiting filters, or a whole-house softener is recommended to prevent spotting on glassware and dry skin and hair effects. CPU maintains chlorine disinfection at safe trace levels per federal standards; no specific PFAS or lead/copper exceedances are noted in available reports, with pH typically neutral to slightly alkaline from mineral content.

Geology & Source: Clark County — Troutdale Formation Miocene-Pleistocene sands, gravels, volcaniclastic deposits; glacial outwash overlying basalt-weathered sediments; calcium and magnesium leaching from Cascade Range erosion produces hard supply

Other Washington Water Reports

Orchards

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Salmon Creek

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Hazel Dell

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Vancouver

≈ 60–120 mg/L

🟡 Moderately 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 Five Corners's water safe to drink?

Yes. Five Corners's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Five Corners?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Five Corners's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Five Corners compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Five Corners (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 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 Five Corners 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.