Hardness
Soft
39.8 PPM · 2.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Apex, NC 27539
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Wake County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Apex, Town Of
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Wake County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 83,001 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
39.8 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
39.8
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 39.8 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
54
Nearest site
4.5 mi
Observation range
Jan 14, 2016–Jun 9, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: SWIFT CREEK NEAR APEX, NC (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 27539 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Apex median
41 PPM
About the same4 indexed ZIP readings · Range 39.8–40.5 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
About the same519 indexed ZIP readings · Range 4.7–267.5 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2028
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 62
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0392060 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NC0392060 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0392060 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Nov 7, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0319124 | Resolved | Feb 6, 2025through May 14, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NC0392060 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0392060 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| TTHM | NC0392060 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0392060 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0319124 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Sep 2, 2025 |
| Nitrate | NC0392159 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0392060 | Addressed | Dec 5, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0319126 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Oct 23, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0319126 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Oct 23, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NC0392060 | Addressed | Jul 12, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0392045 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC4092005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jan 29, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC4392101 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jan 29, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0392060 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jan 2, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0392397 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Dec 17, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0392358 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Dec 4, 2024 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Apex ZIP 27539 using 39.8 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
Start with an independent water test
This profile does not trigger a treatment recommendation. Test at the tap before investing in equipment.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Apex
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Apex
Is tap water safe in Apex?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 39.8 PPM, or 2.3 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.