PFAS Sampling Results
The City of Vancouver provides information about PFAS sampling results to enable drinking water customers to stay informed. Visit Learn about PFAS for more information about actions the City is taking to keep your water safe and for steps you can take at home.
Washington State Board of Health PFAS State Action Levels
In 2021, the Washington State Board of Health adopted State Action Levels for five PFAS that set testing and notification requirements for some water providers, including Vancouver starting in 2023. State Action Levels are set to protect human health and based on the best available science at the time. PFAS chemicals are still being researched and health advice is updated as new science becomes available. State Action Levels are public health goals to protect all people, including sensitive groups and life stages, from potential harmful effects of drinking water with PFAS over a lifetime.
If you have been drinking water over the State Action Level, it doesn’t mean you will get sick or have health problems from this exposure. Learn more at doh.wa.gov/pfas.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Proposed PFAS Maximum Contaminant Level
In 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. The proposed rule does not require any action until finalized, but if approved would set enforceable levels of PFAS in drinking water and require public water systems to monitor for these PFAS, notify the public of the levels of these PFAS, and reduce the levels of these PFAS in drinking water if they exceed the proposed standards.
For more information, see EPA’s Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.
PFAS State Action Levels / Proposed Federal Maximum Contaminant Levels
| Types of PFAS | Washington Department of Health State Action Level | Proposed EPA Maximum Contaminant Level |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 10 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 15 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFNA | 9 ppt | 1 based on EPA Hazard Index3 |
| PFHxS | 65 ppt | 1 based on EPA Hazard Index3 |
| PFBS | 345 ppt | 1 based on EPA Hazard Index3 |
| HFPO-DA (commonly referred to as GenX Chemicals2) | None | 1 based on EPA Hazard Index3 |
11 ppt (part per trillion) is equivalent to a single drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools
2GenX chemicals are not on the Washington State Department of Health’s list of PFAS with State Action Levels
3EPA intends to provide water systems with a web-based form that will automatically calculate the Hazard Index for four types of PFAS together
City of Vancouver PFAS Test Results
Sampling Dates Shown Here: March 2024
Below are the sampling results from the City’s water stations. Vancouver has an open system in which water can be transferred from almost any water station to different areas of the City. We are adjusting our operations and prioritizing use of sources with lower levels of PFAS. However, due to the prevalence of PFAS in local groundwater, water rights limitations and operational restrictions, we are unable to turn off all PFAS sources that exceed State Action Levels without impacting supply.
Note: ND = non detect; ppt = parts per trillion (1 ppt is equivalent to a single drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools)
Most Recent PFOA Sampling Results: March 2024
| City of Vancouver Water Station | PFOA Results (ppt) | Washington Department of Health State Action Level 10 ppt |
|---|---|---|
| Water Station 1 | 3.5 | Below |
| Water Station 3 | 3.8 | Below |
| Water Station 4 | 8.22 | Below |
| Water Station 7 | ND | Below |
| Water Station 8 | 8.6 | Below |
| Water Station 9 | 6.96 | Below |
| Water Station 14 | 11.1 | Above |
| Water Station 15 | 7.94 | Below |
| Ellsworth | ND | Below |
Most Recent PFOS Sampling Results
| City of Vancouver Water Station | PFOS Results (ppt) | Washington Department of Health State Action Level 15 ppt |
|---|---|---|
| Water Station 1 | 5.92 | Below |
| Water Station 3 | 6.84 | Below |
| Water Station 4 | 20.3 | Above |
| Water Station 7 | 5.69 (Well 1) | Below |
| Water Station 8 | 17.2 | Above |
| Water Station 9 | 14.9 | Below |
| Water Station 14 | 20.2 | Above |
| Water Station 15 | 17.8 | Above |
| Ellsworth | ND | Below |
Most Recent PFNA Sampling Results
| City of Vancouver Water Station | PFNA Results (ppt) | Washington Department of Health State Action Level 9 ppt |
|---|---|---|
| Water Station 1 | ND | Below |
| Water Station 3 | ND | Below |
| Water Station 4 | ND | Below |
| Water Station 7 | ND | Below |
| Water Station 8 | ND | Below |
| Water Station 9 | ND | Below |
| Water Station 14 | ND | Below |
| Water Station 15 | ND | Below |
| Ellsworth | ND | Below |
Most Recent PFHxS Sample Results
| City of Vancouver Water Station | PFHxS Results (ppt) | Washington Department of Health State Action Level 65 ppt |
|---|---|---|
| Water Station 1 | 4.72 | Below |
| Water Station 3 | 5.16 | Below |
| Water Station 4 | 5.93 | Below |
| Water Station 7 | 3.67 (Well 1) | Below |
| Water Station 8 | 3.72 | Below |
| Water Station 9 | 2.93 | Below |
| Water Station 14 | 4.1 | Below |
| Water Station 15 | 4.52 | Below |
| Ellsworth | ND | Below |
Most Recent PFBS Sample Results
| City of Vancouver Water Station | PFBS Results (ppt) | Washington Department of Health State Action Level 345 ppt |
|---|---|---|
| Water Station 1 | 3.46 | Below |
| Water Station 3 | 4.08 | Below |
| Water Station 4 | 3.99 | Below |
| Water Station 7 | 2.02 (Well 1) | Below |
| Water Station 8 | 4.92 | Below |
| Water Station 9 | 5.02 | Below |
| Water Station 14 | 6.97 | Below |
| Water Station 15 | 5.4 | Below |
| Ellsworth | ND | Below |
