Hardness
Soft
31.8 PPM · 1.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Ellenboro, NC 28040
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Rutherford County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Ellenboro Town Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Rutherford 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
2 systems
Serves 2,322 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
31.8 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
31.8
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
1.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 31.8 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
2
Nearest site
43.2 mi
Observation range
Jul 20, 2016–Apr 3, 2018
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: FISHING CREEK AT HWY 5 BELOW YORK, SC (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 28040 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Ellenboro median
32 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 31.8–31.8 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
9 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.57 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 1.57
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 20
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NC0181038 | Resolved | Nov 19, 2025through Nov 20, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0181038 | Resolved | Oct 23, 2025through Nov 10, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0181038 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | NC0181038 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | NC0181038 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0181038 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Nov 10, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0181038 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| TTHM | NC0181038 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0181038 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0181050 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| TTHM | NC0181038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0181038 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0181038 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0181038 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0181038 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0181038 | Addressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0181038 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHM | NC0181038 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0181038 | Resolved | Aug 11, 2022through Aug 24, 2022 |
| Public Notice | NC0181050 | Addressed | Sep 3, 2017 |
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 Ellenboro ZIP 28040 using 31.8 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Ellenboro
Is tap water safe in Ellenboro?+
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 31.8 PPM, or 1.9 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.