Hardness
Very Hard
186 PPM · 10.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Carolina Beach, NC 28428
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for New Hanover County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Carolina Beach Water System
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- New Hanover 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
0.0058 mg/L
39% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 6,864 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
186 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
186
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
10.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 186 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
81
Nearest site
1.1 mi
Observation range
May 8, 2017–Aug 28, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: NH-512 NR CAROLINA BEACH, NC PEEDEE (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 28428 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Carolina Beach median
186 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 186–186 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
145 PPM higher519 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)
0.0058 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2028
Copper (CU90)
1.58 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2008
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0058
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.58
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 5
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0465015 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Nov 14, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NC0465015 | Resolved | Apr 27, 2022through Jul 25, 2022 |
| TTHM | NC0465015 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 31, 2021 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0465015 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 31, 2021 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0465015 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2018 |
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 Carolina Beach ZIP 28428 using 186 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
186 PPM is 2× the high-hardness trigger used by this matcher.
Designed to reduce scale on fixtures, water heaters, glassware, and plumbing throughout the home.
Compare whole-house systemsDrinking 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 Carolina Beach
Is tap water safe in Carolina Beach?+
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 186 PPM, or 10.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 186 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.