Water hardness in Port Coquitlam
20 mg/L soft
Tap water in Port Coquitlam is soft: 20 mg/L (1.2 gpg · 1.1 °dH · 2 °fH).
Source: Metro Vancouver (GVWD) 2025 Water Quality Annual Report Vol 1 (2025) · data checked 2026-11-02
Range across supply zones: 18–22 mg/L.
2 supply zones — hardness varies by neighbourhood; the figure above is the median.
Hardness by district / supply zone
| mg/L | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capilano source, treated | 21 | 21 | soft |
| Seymour source, treated | 20 | 20 | soft |
Port Coquitlam buys water from Metro Vancouver, and its own report prints no hardness. We use Metro Vancouver's 2025 treated averages as a regional proxy: 20.5 mg/L for Capilano and 20.2 mg/L for Seymour. The city is supplied mainly from Coquitlam Lake, which Metro Vancouver reports as even softer, at 2.4 mg/L. That value is still under review. The water is very soft, so scale is rarely an issue.
Health Canada: hardness above 200 mg/L is considered poor but tolerable; above 500 mg/L unacceptable.
Water data
| Total hardness | 20 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Utility | City of Port Coquitlam (supplied by Metro Vancouver) |
How Port Coquitlam compares
- Tap water in Port Coquitlam is 80 % softer than the median of the 254 cities we track in Canada (101 mg/L).
- By hardness it ranks 211 of 254 in Canada (1 = hardest); 16 % of these cities have softer water.
- In British Columbia it is number 22 of 35 cities; the regional median is 22 mg/L.
- Nearest city with clearly softer water: Nanaimo, 86 km away (12 mg/L).
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Gibsons, 55 km away (46 mg/L).
Ranking of the hardest and softest water in Canada →
What it means at home
- Little or no limescale in kettles, water heaters or washing machines.
- Soap lathers easily; water does not dry skin or hair.
- Dishwasher: salt setting at minimum or off.
- No softener needed; a jug filter only changes taste.
How much salt will you use for softening?
No. Water this soft does not need softening.
Descale a coffee machine or kettle about every 6 months (typical manufacturer guidance for this hardness).
Estimates for planning, not a quote. Check your appliance manual for exact settings.
Dishwasher setting in Port Coquitlam
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H00 |
| Miele | 1 °dH |
| AEG / Electrolux | 1 |
| Beko | 1st |
| Hoover | S0 |
| LG | H0 |
From each brand's manual for the model family named in the source; your model may differ, so check its manual. All brands and how to change the setting →
FAQ
Is Port Coquitlam water hard or soft?
It is soft: 20 mg/L as CaCO₃ (1.2 gpg, 1.1 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Port Coquitlam safe to drink?
Hardness is not a health issue; it is about limescale, taste and appliances. Mains water must meet national drinking-water standards. Health Canada: hardness above 200 mg/L is considered poor but tolerable; above 500 mg/L unacceptable.
How many grains per gallon is Port Coquitlam water?
1.2 gpg, equal to 1.1 °dH, 2 °fH or 20 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Port Coquitlam?
For 20 mg/L (1.1 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: level 0–1, usually no salt.
Do I need a water softener in Port Coquitlam?
No. With soft water a softener adds nothing.
Source
Source: Metro Vancouver (GVWD) 2025 Water Quality Annual Report Vol 1 (2025). Method: figure published by the water supplier. Metro Vancouver (GVWD) 2025 Water Quality Annual Report Vol 1 · Outdated figure? Tell us