Water hardness in North Carolina, characterized by the amount of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium, can significantly differ among various cities across the state due to its varied geological landscapes. Situated on the East Coast of the U.S., North Carolina’s water hardness levels reflect the geological diversity within the state.
Across North Carolina, water hardness can range from moderately soft to very hard, depending on the geological makeup of the area and the source of the water supply. For example, coastal areas tend to have softer water due to the influence of river basins and estuaries, while regions in the Piedmont and mountainous areas may experience harder water owing to the mineral composition of their local water sources.
The variation in water hardness throughout North Carolina influences not only the taste and aesthetics of the water but also the efficiency of soaps and detergents, plumbing maintenance, and the lifespan of appliances that utilize water. Given the state’s considerable geological diversity, water hardness is not uniform, highlighting the need for localized water treatment solutions and ongoing monitoring of water quality.
In the provided data, the water hardness levels show substantial variations across different cities in North Carolina. Among the cities for which data is reported, the highest water hardness level is recorded in Washington with at of 59.0 ppm, 3.4 gpg. Conversely, the city with the lowest recorded water hardness level is Asheville, reporting a hardness 5.2 ppm, 0.3 gpg.
City | Hardness ppm (mg/L) | Hardness gpg | Information Source | Notes |
Charlotte | 21.0 | 1.2 | Link | |
Raleigh | 28.2 | 1.6 | Link | |
Greensboro | 29.5 | 1.7 | Link | |
Durham | 24.0 | 1.4 | Link | |
Winston-Salem | 19.9 | 1.2 | Link | |
Fayetteville | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Cary | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Wilmington | 42.0 | 2.5 | Link | |
High Point | 48.0 | 2.8 | Link | |
Concord | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Asheville | 5.2 | 0.3 | Link | |
Greenville | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Gastonia | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Jacksonville | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Apex | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Huntersville | 21.0 | 1.2 | Link | Serviced by Charlotte |
Chapel Hill | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Burlington | 29.5 | 1.7 | Link | |
Kannapolis | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Rocky Mount | 42.0 | 2.5 | Link | |
Mooresville | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Wake Forest | 28.2 | 1.6 | Link | Serviced by Raleigh |
Wilson | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Hickory | 15.9 | 0.9 | Link | |
Holly Springs | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Indian Trail | 23.0 | 1.3 | Link | |
Fuquay-Varina | 28.2 | 1.6 | Link | |
Salisbury | 26.0 | 1.5 | Link | |
Monroe | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Goldsboro | 32.0 | 1.9 | Link | |
Garner | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Cornelius | 21.0 | 1.2 | Link | Serviced by Charlotte |
New Bern | n/a | n/a | Link | Mentions they soften, but don’t quantify |
Morrisville | n/a | n/a | Link | Serviced by Cary |
Sanford | 36.4 | 2.1 | Link | |
Matthews | 21.0 | 1.2 | Link | Serviced by Charlotte |
Statesville | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Clayton | 36.5 | 2.1 | Link | |
Thomasville | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Asheboro | 5.2 | 0.3 | Link | |
Kernersville | 19.9 | 1.2 | Link | Serviced by Winston Salem |
Mint Hill | 21.0 | 1.2 | Link | Serviced by Charlotte |
Leland | 28.0 | 1.6 | Link | |
Shelby | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Waxhaw | 23.0 | 1.3 | Link | |
Clemmons | 19.9 | 1.2 | Link | Serviced by Winston Salem |
Carrboro | n/a | n/a | Link | Served by same system as Chapel Hill |
Knightdale | 28.2 | 1.6 | Link | Covered by Raleigh |
Kinston | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Lexington | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Harrisburg | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Elizabeth City | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Lumberton | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Mebane | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Lenoir | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Boone | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Pinehurst | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Mount Holly | 12.0 | 0.7 | Link | |
Hope Mills | n/a | n/a | Link | Covered by Fayetteville |
Morganton | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Graham | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Havelock | n/a | n/a | Link | Mentions it is treated for hardness but doesn’t quantify |
Albemarle | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Stallings | 23.0 | 1.3 | Link | |
Southern Pines | 8.7 | 0.5 | Link | |
Eden | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Laurinburg | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Belmont | 17.8 | 1.0 | Link | |
Davidson | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Roanoke Rapids | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Hendersonville | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Henderson | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Reidsville | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Lewisville | 19.9 | 1.2 | Link | Covered by Winston Salem per city website for utilities |
Weddington | 23.0 | 1.3 | Link | Union County |
Newton | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Archdale | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Smithfield | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Spring Lake | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Wendell | 28.2 | 1.6 | Link | Covered by Raleigh |
Kings Mountain | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Lincolnton | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Elon | 30.0 | 1.8 | Link | |
Summerfield | n/a | n/a | Link | Looks like it’s mostly wellwater, city website has a whole log of water exploration initiatives. |
Pineville | 21.0 | 1.2 | Link | Covered by Charlotte |
Winterville | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Tarboro | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Mount Airy | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Waynesville | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Rolesville | 28.2 | 1.6 | Link | Covered by Raleigh |
Hillsborough | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Washington | 59.0 | 3.4 | Link | |
Morehead City | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Aberdeen | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Rockingham | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Gibsonville | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Wesley Chapel | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Oak Island | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Oxford | n/a | n/a | Link | |
Butner | n/a | n/a | Link |
ppm = Parts Per Million
mg/L = Milligrams Per Liter
gpg = Grains Per Gallon
Hard water can cause issues such as mineral buildup in plumbing and appliances, reduce the efficacy of soaps and detergents, and affect the taste of the water. A tried and true solution is the use of a water softener. A water softener, like the ones from DROP, could be a worthwhile investment.
These devices work by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness with sodium ions, resulting in softer water. With innovative features, easy installation, and efficient operation, DROP smart water softeners provide a solution to hard water issues, extending the lifespan of appliances, improving water taste, enhancing soap effectiveness, reducing scale build-up, and increasing the overall water efficiency in your home.