Utility-reported hardness
Unavailable
Ask your provider or test your tap
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Highlands, NC 28741
Regional hardness evidence, possible serving systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Macon County.
Historical measurement record needs context
- Largest possible serving system
- Highlands, Town Of
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater + Groundwater influenced by surface water
- County
- Macon County
- Profile updated
Your tap water
What does the utility report?
Match the utility name to your water bill. These results describe the utility’s water, not a test at your home. A ZIP can include several water systems.
Utility hardness unavailable in this index
Nearby river or groundwater samples cannot tell us the hardness coming out of your tap. Ask your water provider for total hardness as CaCO₃, or test it at home.
Find an official utility report →At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
All possible systems
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Measurements by utility
Each result belongs to a specific system.
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 6,614 people system-wide
Match the name on your water bill
Your utility’s measurements and compliance records
These are possible serving systems. A record for one system does not apply to every home in this ZIP. Confirm your provider before interpreting a measurement or notice. Federal records can lag current utility notices.
EPA snapshot: 2026Q2. Historical window begins Jan 1, 2021.
Highlands, Town Of
NC0157015 · Surface water · 6,614 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (2)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0.004 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
27% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
EPA SDWIS reported health-based violation
- Reported level
- 0.065 MG/L
- Maximum contaminant level
- 0.06 MG/L
108% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2023 to Mar 31, 2023
Violation history (7)
| Rule | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024 to Nov 4, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024 to Nov 4, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-based | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023 to Mar 31, 2023 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023 to Mar 31, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-based | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022 to Dec 31, 2022 |
| 2,4-D | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022 to Dec 31, 2022 |
| Public Notice | Resolved | Jun 19, 2021 to Jul 10, 2023 |
Cullasaja Club
NC0157143 · Groundwater · 800 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (2)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
0% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2025 to Dec 31, 2025
Copper (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 1.39 mg/L
- Action level
- 1.3 mg/L
107% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2014 to Jun 30, 2014
Violation history (1)
| Rule | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021 to Oct 14, 2021 |
Highlands Falls Country Club
NC0157123 · Groundwater · 650 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (2)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0.025 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
167% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025
Copper (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 3.3 mg/L
- Action level
- 1.3 mg/L
254% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2000 to Jun 30, 2000
Violation history (5)
| Rule | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024 to May 28, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024 to May 28, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024 to May 28, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | Resolved | Dec 10, 2023 to Feb 9, 2024 |
Wildcat Cliffs Country Club
NC0157118 · Groundwater · 445 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (2)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
0% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025
Copper (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 1.8 mg/L
- Action level
- 1.3 mg/L
138% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jul 1, 2002 to Dec 31, 2002
Violation history (4)
| Rule | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Resolved | Jan 11, 2026 to Jan 12, 2026 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024 to Aug 20, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024 to Aug 20, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021 to Oct 14, 2021 |
Cold Springs Poa
NC0157138 · Groundwater · 165 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (2)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
0% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025
Copper (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 1.64 mg/L
- Action level
- 1.3 mg/L
126% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jul 1, 2016 to Dec 31, 2016
Violation history (2)
| Rule | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024 to Nov 14, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Addressed | Jan 1, 2009 |
King Mountain Club Water
NC0157117 · Groundwater influenced by surface water · 150 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (1)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
0% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025
Violation history (3)
| Rule | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|
| TTHM | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025 to Jul 24, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025 to Jul 24, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Resolved | Feb 11, 2022 to Feb 2, 2022 |
Cherrywood Trails
NC1057024 · Groundwater · 125 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (0)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
No comparable numerical result available
Federal SDWIS data does not provide a usable numerical result and benchmark for this profile. Missing data is not a pass. Check the serving utility's current Consumer Confidence Report.
Violation history (0)
No record returned in this imported window. This is not a guarantee of tap-water safety.
Flat Mountain Estates
NC0157102 · Groundwater · 109 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (2)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
0% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025
Copper (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 1.91 mg/L
- Action level
- 1.3 mg/L
147% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2014 to Dec 31, 2016
Violation history (5)
| Rule | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Resolved | Oct 11, 2022 to Oct 11, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022 to Nov 9, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021 to Oct 14, 2021 |
Sassafras Gap Employee Village
NC0157154 · Groundwater · 107 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (1)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
0% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025
Violation history (1)
| Rule | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021 to Oct 14, 2021 |
Cottages At Lake Osseroga
NC1057005 · Groundwater · 93 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (2)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0.002 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
13% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025
Copper (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 1.35 mg/L
- Action level
- 1.3 mg/L
104% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2008 to Jun 30, 2008
Violation history (0)
No record returned in this imported window. This is not a guarantee of tap-water safety.
Hardness meter
What does nearby environmental evidence show?
5
PPM as CaCO₃
Soft
PPM
5
GPG
0.3
Regional environmental evidence
USGS hardness classification scale
5 PPM
Soft
0–60Moderate
61–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–60Moderate
61–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
How to use regional evidence
These samples describe nearby environmental water. They cannot establish whether your tap water is soft or hard. Use a utility result or a tap test for appliance settings and treatment sizing.
USGS sites used
1
Nearest site
18.3 mi
Observation range
Dec 5, 2024–Dec 5, 2024
Regional evidence confidence
Low
Median of the latest source-type-aligned hardness observation at each monitoring site within 25 miles. Nearest monitoring location: CHATTOOGA RIVER NEAR CLAYTON, GA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗Evidence tier: Regional environmental evidence. This value is not used as proof of the serving utility's treated-water hardness.
Regional context
Is 28741 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Highlands median
5 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 5–5 PPM
North Carolina median
45 PPM
40 PPM lower247 indexed ZIP readings · Range 3.1–269 PPM
Evidence-first next steps
Confirm the problem before choosing treatment
This profile can help you ask the right question. It cannot select equipment for a property without a current result from the serving utility or the tap.
Confirm the serving system
ZIP boundaries and utility service areas do not perfectly match. Verify the system on a water bill before relying on system-wide records.
Read the current utility report
A reported action-level record needs context. Check its monitoring period and the utility's current report.
Find an official utility report →Test for the decision you face
Use a tap hardness test before sizing a softener. For health concerns, use a certified laboratory and the correct sampling protocol.
Convert your hardness test result →Frequently asked
Water questions for Highlands
Is tap water safe in Highlands?+
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?+
Utility-reported hardness is unavailable in this index. Regional samples do not establish tap-water hardness. Ask your provider or test your tap.
Do I need a water softener?+
Confirm hardness at your tap and consider actual scale or spotting before choosing treatment. Regional environmental values cannot determine whether you need a softener. A softener addresses hardness, not every contaminant.