Hardness
Very Hard
188.5 PPM · 11 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Germanton, NC 27019
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Stokes County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Country Living Apts
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Stokes 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
0.28 mg/L
1867% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 66 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
188.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
188.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
11
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 188.5 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
4
Nearest site
54.5 mi
Observation range
Sep 6, 2022–Nov 8, 2022
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 27E 2 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 27019 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Germanton median
189 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 188.5–188.5 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
148 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.
0 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.28 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
4.09 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2011
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.28
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 4.09
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 13
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NC0285130 | Addressed | Jun 17, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0285130 | Addressed | Jun 16, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0285130 | Addressed | Jun 16, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | NC0285130 | Resolved | Dec 10, 2024through Jul 10, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0285130 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Jun 19, 2025 |
| E. COLI | NC0285130 | Resolved | Jun 19, 2023through Jun 29, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | NC0285130 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0285130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Aug 6, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0285130 | Archived | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0285130 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0285130 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Feb 21, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0285130 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 7, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0285130 | 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 Germanton ZIP 27019 using 188.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
188.5 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
Lead (90th percentile), Copper (90th percentile), Lead and Copper Rule 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 Germanton
Is tap water safe in Germanton?+
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 188.5 PPM, or 11 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 188.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.