Hardness
Soft
12 PPM · 0.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Highlands, NC 28741
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Macon County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Highlands, Town Of
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater + Groundwater influenced by surface water
- County
- Macon 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
0.004 mg/L
27% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 6,614 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
12 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
12
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 12 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
7
Nearest site
18.3 mi
Observation range
Jan 6, 2016–Mar 9, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
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 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
12 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 12–12 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
29 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.004 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
2.91 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2022
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.004
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 2.91
EPA limit 1.3
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.065
EPA limit 0.06
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 38
- Health-based
- 8
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0157118 | Resolved | Jan 11, 2026through Jan 12, 2026 |
| TTHM | NC0157117 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jul 24, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0157117 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jul 24, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0157015 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Nov 4, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0157015 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Nov 4, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0157118 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Aug 20, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0157118 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Aug 20, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0157102 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 4, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0157102 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 4, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0157138 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Nov 14, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0157135 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Nov 21, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC1057013 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Nov 21, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0157123 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through May 28, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | NC0157123 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through May 28, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0157123 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through May 28, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0157123 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper RuleHealth-based | NC0157123 | Resolved | Dec 10, 2023through Feb 9, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0157135 | Addressed | Oct 1, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.065 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | NC0157015 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | NC0157015 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
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 Highlands ZIP 28741 using 12 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 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 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?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 12 PPM, or 0.7 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.