Hardness
Soft
25.9 PPM · 1.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Black Mountain, NC 28711
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.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Black Mountain, Town 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
3 systems
Serves 11,976 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
25.9 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
25.9
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
1.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 25.9 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
1
Nearest site
51.5 mi
Observation range
Jul 20, 2016–Nov 7, 2017
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 28711 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Black Mountain median
26 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 25.9–25.9 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
15 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.825 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.825
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 20
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NC0111020 | Resolved | Mar 27, 2026through Apr 30, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0111020 | Resolved | Feb 27, 2026through Apr 30, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0111108 | Addressed | Feb 27, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0111108 | Addressed | Feb 27, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0111020 | Resolved | Dec 18, 2025through Apr 30, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0111020 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Chlorine | NC0111020 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0111108 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Chlorine | NC0111108 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0111020 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jan 6, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0111020 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jan 6, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0111104 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Feb 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0111104 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Feb 1, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0111020 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| TTHM | NC0111020 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0111020 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Dec 19, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NC0111104 | Addressed | Feb 23, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0111104 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Feb 5, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0111020 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 6, 2023 |
| E. COLI | NC0111104 | Addressed | Jul 24, 2013 |
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 Black Mountain ZIP 28711 using 25.9 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile) has a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Black Mountain
Is tap water safe in Black Mountain?+
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 25.9 PPM, or 1.5 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.