Hardness
Soft
5 PPM · 0.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Cullowhee, NC 28723
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Jackson County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Western Carolina Univ Wtp
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Jackson 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
6 systems
Serves 7,800 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
5
Nearest site
38.3 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: CHATTOOGA RIVER NEAR CLAYTON, GA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 28723 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Cullowhee median
5 PPM
About the same1 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
- 23
- Health-based
- 5
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NC0150035 | Resolved | Apr 28, 2025through May 1, 2025 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | NC0150035 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0150035 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Oct 22, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0150035 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Oct 22, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0150111 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Oct 30, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0150111 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Oct 30, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-basedReported 3 NTU | NC0150035 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | NC0150035 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0150107 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 31, 2024 |
| Chlorine | NC0150107 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC1050034 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Nov 18, 2024 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | NC0150035 | Resolved | May 1, 2024through May 31, 2024 |
| Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | NC0150035 | Resolved | May 1, 2024through May 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0150116 | Resolved | Oct 11, 2023through Oct 11, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0150192 | Resolved | Apr 11, 2023through Apr 11, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC1050034 | Resolved | Feb 11, 2023through Feb 9, 2023 |
| TTHM | NC0150192 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Jul 24, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0150192 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Jul 24, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0150111 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 9, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0150192 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Oct 14, 2021 |
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 Cullowhee ZIP 28723 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Cullowhee
Is tap water safe in Cullowhee?+
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.