Hardness
Soft
40.5 PPM · 2.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Durham, NC 27709
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Durham County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Durham, City Of
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Durham 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 333,490 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
4.2 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: NORTHEAST CREEK AT SR1100 NR GENLEE, NC (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 27709 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Durham median
41 PPM
About the same10 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, 2028
Copper (CU90)
1.694 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
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 1.694
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 167
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NC0332106 | Addressed | Feb 15, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0332106 | Addressed | Feb 15, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0332106 | Addressed | Feb 15, 2026 |
| Chlorine | NC0368122 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0368122 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0332106 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0332106 | Addressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| E. COLI | NC0332106 | Resolved | Aug 6, 2025through Dec 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0332106 | Addressed | Jul 4, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0332106 | Addressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0368122 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Nov 10, 2025 |
| Nitrate | NC0332106 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate | NC0332106 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate | NC0332106 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0368122 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0332106 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 14, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0332106 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 14, 2025 |
| E. COLI | NC0368148 | Addressed | Sep 11, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0332130 | Addressed | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0332139 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jan 29, 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 Durham ZIP 27709 using 40.5 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 Durham
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Durham
Is tap water safe in Durham?+
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 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.