Hardness
Soft
40.2 PPM · 2.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Rocky Mount, NC 27803
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Nash County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Rocky Mount, City Of
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Nash 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
2 systems
Serves 55,891 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
40.2 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
40.2
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 40.2 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
51
Nearest site
35.3 mi
Observation range
Jan 14, 2016–Jun 9, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: CONTENTNEA CREEK AT HOOKERTON, NC (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 27803 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Rocky Mount median
40 PPM
About the same3 indexed ZIP readings · Range 40.2–40.2 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
About the same519 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
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
EPA limit 0.015
Nitrate
Measured in MG/L
Local 11.08
EPA limit 10
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 11
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NC0433120 | Addressed | Feb 27, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0433120 | Addressed | Feb 27, 2026 |
| Chlorine | NC0433120 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| E. COLI | NC0433120 | Archived | Dec 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 11.08 MG/L · MCL 10 | NC0433120 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Feb 13, 2023 |
| Public Notice | NC0433120 | Resolved | Nov 13, 2022through Dec 7, 2022 |
| NitrateHealth-basedReported 10.83 MG/L · MCL 10 | NC0433120 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0433120 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Nov 9, 2022 |
| Public Notice | NC0433120 | Resolved | Sep 22, 2021through Jan 24, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0433120 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Mar 14, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0433120 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 22, 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 Rocky Mount ZIP 27803 using 40.2 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Nitrate has 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 Rocky Mount
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Rocky Mount
Is tap water safe in Rocky Mount?+
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 40.2 PPM, or 2.4 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.