Hardness
Soft
5 PPM · 0.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Asheville, NC 28806
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Buncombe County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Asheville City Of
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Buncombe 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
8 systems
Serves 157,431 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 5 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
3
Nearest site
54 mi
Observation range
Jan 6, 2016–Mar 9, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: ENOREE RIVER AT PELHAM, SC (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 28806 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Asheville median
5 PPM
About the same5 indexed ZIP readings · Range 5–5 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
36 PPM lower519 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, 2025
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
- 24
- Health-based
- 5
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0111010 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Nov 25, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0111152 | Addressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0111030 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jan 30, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0111030 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jan 30, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0111130 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Nov 15, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0111130 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Nov 15, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0111142 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jun 18, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0111142 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jun 18, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0111147 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 23, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0111147 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 23, 2024 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | NC0111010 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0111152 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Dec 9, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NC0111147 | Resolved | Feb 23, 2024through Jul 29, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0111171 | Resolved | Jun 11, 2023through Jun 21, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0111130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 8, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0111030 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 17, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0111147 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0111171 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Oct 14, 2021 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | NC0111010 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0111142 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2016 |
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 Asheville ZIP 28806 using 5 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 Asheville
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Asheville
Is tap water safe in Asheville?+
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 5 PPM, or 0.3 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.