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City water profile

Rutherfordton water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Rutherfordton, North Carolina.

Median indexed hardness

32PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 31.8–31.8 PPM

State comparison
9 PPM below
State hardness rank
#328 of 381
Matched utilities
2
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Rutherfordton has 1 published ZIP profile across Rutherford County. The indexed median is 32 PPM, compared with 41 PPM across North Carolina.

Among the 381 North Carolinacities with an indexed median, Rutherfordton ranks #328from highest to lowest. Across all 519 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 4.7to 267.5 PPM.

Because only one ZIP is represented, the city median and range are the same local estimate. It should not be read as multiple independent samples across the community. At least one estimate is marked low confidence, so observation distance and date deserve extra attention.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft1 ZIP
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard0 ZIPs
Very hard0 ZIPs

1 of 1 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
36.4 miles
Profiles with evidence
1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 1

Observation window: Jul 20, 2016 to Apr 3, 2018.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Rutherfordton

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

28139

Soft

31.8 PPM

Nearest site
36.4 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Broad River Water Authority

PWSID NC0181035

Surface water
System population served
18,242
Last reported
Jun 26, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Colonial Manor Rest Home

PWSID NC0181132

Groundwater
System population served
27
Last reported
Jun 26, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSNC0181132Oct 17, 2024Resolved · health-based
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSNC0181132Oct 17, 2024Resolved
Consumer Confidence RuleNC0181132Jul 1, 2022Resolved
Public NoticeNC0181132Mar 22, 2020Addressed
Public NoticeNC0181132Jan 25, 2020Addressed
Lead and Copper RuleNC0181132Jan 1, 2020Addressed
Public NoticeNC0181132Feb 7, 2019Addressed
Public NoticeNC0181132Dec 21, 2018Addressed
Public NoticeNC0181132Nov 30, 2018Addressed
Lead and Copper RuleNC0181132Jan 1, 2016Addressed

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in Rutherfordton

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 32 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.