Hardness
Very Hard
183.5 PPM · 10.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Jacksonville, NC 28546
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Onslow County.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Onslow Wtr And Sewer Authority
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Onslow 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
9 systems
Serves 156,755 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
183.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
183.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
10.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 183.5 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
110
Nearest site
3.2 mi
Observation range
May 8, 2017–Sep 11, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: ON-418 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE BP2 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 28546 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Jacksonville median
183 PPM
About the same6 indexed ZIP readings · Range 183–183.5 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
143 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.
1 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
2.261 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2021
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
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 2.261
EPA limit 1.3
TTHM
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.081
EPA limit 0.08
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 118
- Health-based
- 10
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC7067007 | Addressed | Apr 1, 2026through Jun 30, 2026 |
| TTHM | NC7067007 | Addressed | Apr 1, 2026through Jun 30, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0467224 | Resolved | Dec 18, 2025through Feb 12, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0467222 | Resolved | Sep 21, 2025through Feb 12, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0467103 | Resolved | Sep 11, 2025through Oct 15, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0467102 | Resolved | Sep 11, 2025through Oct 23, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0467103 | Resolved | Aug 11, 2025through Aug 11, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0467222 | Resolved | Jul 19, 2025through Feb 12, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0467224 | Resolved | Jul 19, 2025through Feb 12, 2026 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0467222 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 3, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NC0467102 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| TTHM | NC0467102 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0467224 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Aug 12, 2025 |
| TTHM | NC0467102 | Addressed | Apr 6, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0467103 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Aug 15, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0467102 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Nov 19, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0467035 | Resolved | Oct 28, 2024through Dec 18, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0467035 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Nov 7, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0467035 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Nov 7, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0467010 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Oct 17, 2024 |
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 Jacksonville ZIP 28546 using 183.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
183.5 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
Copper (90th percentile), TTHM 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Jacksonville
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Jacksonville
Is tap water safe in Jacksonville?+
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 183.5 PPM, or 10.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 183.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.