Hardness
Soft
45.2 PPM · 2.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Chapel Hill, NC 27517
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Chatham County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Stoneridge Master
- Source water
- Groundwater + Surface water
- County
- Chatham 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 681 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
45.2 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
45.2
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 45.2 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
30
Nearest site
6.3 mi
Observation range
Aug 2, 2016–Nov 28, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: CH-252 NEW HOPE CHURCH RD CARY, NC BEDROCK (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 27517 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Chapel Hill median
45 PPM
About the same4 indexed ZIP readings · Range 43.7–45.2 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)
1.4 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 1.4
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 164
- Health-based
- 4
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NC0368130 | Addressed | Feb 15, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0368130 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC4019004 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0319128 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Apr 6, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0319133 | Addressed | Sep 21, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0368130 | Addressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0319130 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Dec 17, 2025 |
| E. COLI | NC0368119 | Addressed | Jun 22, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0368182 | Resolved | May 11, 2025through Jun 13, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0368152 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | NC0368130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0368152 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jan 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0319133 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | NC0319133 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0319128 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0368130 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jun 2, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0368130 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jun 2, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0319130 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 19, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0319130 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 19, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0319133 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Feb 14, 2025 |
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 Chapel Hill ZIP 27517 using 45.2 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Chapel Hill
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Chapel Hill
Is tap water safe in Chapel Hill?+
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 45.2 PPM, or 2.6 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.