Hardness
Moderately Hard
80.3 PPM · 4.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Lake Lure, NC 28746
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.
2 reported benchmark flags
- Primary matched system
- Fairfield Mountains No 1
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Rutherford 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
0.0155 mg/L
103% of action level
Utility match
5 systems
Serves 1,798 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
80.3 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
80.3
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
4.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 80.3 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
6
Nearest site
49.1 mi
Observation range
Aug 9, 2022–Apr 22, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Ct:E-006 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 28746 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Lake Lure median
80 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 80.3–80.3 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
39 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)
0.0155 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2026
Copper (CU90)
1.72 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2007
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0155
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.72
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 23
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC1081024 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 15, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0181020 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 10, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC1081024 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 10, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0181020 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Feb 4, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0181020 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Feb 4, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0181138 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 30, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0181138 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 30, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC1081024 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jan 31, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC1081024 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jan 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0181020 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Nov 14, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC1081024 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Nov 14, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC1081024 | Addressed | Oct 1, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0181020 | Resolved | May 1, 2022through May 31, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC1081024 | Resolved | May 1, 2022through May 31, 2022 |
| Chlorine | NC0181020 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Chlorine | NC1081024 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0181020 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2021through Aug 31, 2021 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC1081024 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2021through Aug 31, 2021 |
| Chlorine | NC0181020 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| Chlorine | NC1081024 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 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 Lake Lure ZIP 28746 using 80.3 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Lead (90th percentile), Copper (90th percentile) 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 Lake Lure
Is tap water safe in Lake Lure?+
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 80.3 PPM, or 4.7 grains per gallon, classified as moderately hard. 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.