Hardness
Soft
40.5 PPM · 2.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Burlington, NC 27215
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Alamance County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Burlington, City Of
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Alamance County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
9 systems
Serves 61,365 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
40.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
40.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 40.5 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
52
Nearest site
16 mi
Observation range
Jan 15, 2016–Jun 9, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: CANE CR RESERVOIR AT DAM NR WHITE CROSS, NC (Lake, Reservoir, Impoundment).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 27215 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Burlington median
41 PPM
About the same2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 40.5–40.5 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.749 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1993
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 1.749
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 35
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0201118 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through May 29, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0201010 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NC0201010 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0201126 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NC0201126 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0201126 | Addressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0201118 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0201126 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0201126 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0201204 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Dec 19, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0201126 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Nov 18, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0201204 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 4, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0201118 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0201126 | Addressed | Oct 1, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0201035 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Nov 7, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0201118 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0201126 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2022through Nov 30, 2022 |
| Chlorine | NC0201126 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0201035 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Nov 9, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0201126 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Nov 9, 2022 |
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 Burlington ZIP 27215 using 40.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS have 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Burlington
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Burlington
Is tap water safe in Burlington?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 40.5 PPM, or 2.4 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.