Salmon Creek Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
3.4 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
132.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.15
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 Salmon Creek, your appliances are currently losing 8% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Salmon Creek | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -9% |
| Washing Machine | 11.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -4% |
| Water Heater | 13.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -11% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Salmon Creek compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Salmon Creek, Washington | 58 mg/L | 2.7 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Hazel Dell, Washington | 72.5 mg/L | 3.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Vancouver, Washington | 61 mg/L | 2.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Five Corners, Washington | 76.5 mg/L | 3.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Orchards, Washington | 33 mg/L | 1.9 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Salmon Creek compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Salmon Creek | 58 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Salmon Creek's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Salmon Creek, Washington, in Clark County — a suburban Clark County unincorporated community north of Vancouver and Battle Ground in the north Clark County corridor, part of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area — receives its municipal water from Clark Public Utilities or local water purveyors, which draws from the Columbia River treated at the City of Vancouver Water Division or Clark County supply infrastructure.
The moderately soft 58 mg/L hardness and TDS of 132.8 mg/L reflect the Clark County water supply's Columbia River and Cascade watershed character — harder than the Portland Bull Run supply (typically 20-50 mg/L) but softer than inland Pacific Northwest groundwater. The Columbia River in the Portland-Vancouver reach collects drainage from the Cascade Range (very soft volcanic basalt) and the Columbia Plateau (harder basalt aquifer systems from eastern Oregon-Washington), producing a blended supply with moderate hardness in the Clark County corridor.
At 58 mg/L, Salmon Creek's water is moderately soft — comfortable for household use. Scale forms slowly, soap lathers well, and appliances operate efficiently. Semi-annual descaling is adequate. The PFAS level of 2.7 ppt is very good for a Pacific Northwest metro area — reflecting the Columbia River's large dilution volume and the relatively limited direct PFAS sources in the upper Clark County watershed compared to Puget Sound military corridors.
Geology & Source: Salmon Creek in Clark County draws from Clark County Public Utilities or Clark Public Utilities on the Columbia River (Portland metro supply) or Bull Run Watershed (City of Portland, Mount Hood Cascades) — the Bull Run-Columbia system drains the Western Cascades (Tertiary basalt and andesite) — Cascades volcanic watershed and Columbia River drainage produces moderately soft water at 58 mg/L with TDS 133 mg/L in this Clark County Washington community.