Water System Report WA

City of Vancouver

EPA ID: WA5391200 ยท 373,047 people served ยท 12 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for City of Vancouver (WA5391200): PFAS sampling above the current EPA limit (UCMR5). For the full five-year period covered by EPA monitoring, City of Vancouver has supplied tap water to 373,047 residents with no violations of any type on record.

Data: EPA SDWIS

D ยท 49
Avg Safety Score
373,047
People Served
12
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0022 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$443K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Vancouver Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$86,317
Median Household Income
371,586
Service Area Population
12%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
47%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Vancouver serves a community with a median household income of $86,317 and an estimated 371,586 residents across its service area. Approximately 47% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

City of Vancouver's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
10th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

42 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
27 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 61% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 68 detections recorded. 24 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 10 exceed state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.01 ppt, PFOS: 0.015 ppt, PFHxS: 0.065 ppt, PFBS: 0.345 ppt, HFPO-DA: 0.024 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Washington

City of Spokane
346,138 people
D 0 violations
City of Bellevue
321,349 people
A 0 violations
A 0 violations
Alderwood Water District
245,715 people
A 0 violations
A 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,450
Radon Mitigation $1,200
PFAS Treatment $600
Water Filtration $250
Total Estimated Cost $3,500

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,500 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

City of Vancouver (EPA ID: WA5391200) is a community water system in Washington that serves approximately 373,047 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 12 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (49/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 8 of 12 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0022 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by WA or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Vancouver (WA5391200) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Vancouver water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for City of Vancouver in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does City of Vancouver serve?

City of Vancouver serves approximately 373,047 people across 12 ZIP codes in Washington.

Where does City of Vancouver get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
580
Detections
73
Latest sample
11/29/2023
Highest analyte
PFOS: 18.6 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 18.6 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFOA 11.5 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFBS 7.6 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 7.4 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 7.3 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxS 6.6 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Vancouver safe to drink?
City of Vancouver has a D safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
City of Vancouver meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does City of Vancouver serve?
City of Vancouver serves approximately 373,047 people with drinking water across 12 ZIP codes.
What is City of Vancouver's water source?
City of Vancouver draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Vancouver's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0022 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Vancouver's service area?
The City of Vancouver service area has a median household income of $86,317. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does City of Vancouver get its water?
City of Vancouver's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). City of Vancouver, WA: Serves 373K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/wa5391200/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-wa5391200,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{City of Vancouver, WA: Serves 373K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/wa5391200/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

City of Vancouver (EPA ID: WA5391200) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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