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City water profile

Spruce Pine water quality

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

Median indexed hardness

172PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 172–172 PPM

State comparison
131 PPM above
State hardness rank
#74 of 381
Matched utilities
4
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Spruce Pine has 1 published ZIP profile across Mitchell County. The indexed median is 172 PPM, compared with 41 PPM across North Carolina.

Among the 381 North Carolinacities with an indexed median, Spruce Pine ranks #74from 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

Soft0 ZIPs
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard1 ZIP
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
68.6 miles
Profiles with evidence
1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 1

Observation window: Jul 20, 2016 to Nov 7, 2017.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Spruce Pine

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

28777

Hard

172 PPM

Nearest site
68.6 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Spruce Pine, Town Of

PWSID NC0161010

Surface water
System population served
5,661
Last reported
Jun 26, 2026

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

Swiss Pine Lakes

PWSID NC0161104

Surface water
System population served
185
Last reported
Jun 26, 2026

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

Bear Den Acres

PWSID NC0156129

Groundwater
System population served
140
Last reported
Jun 26, 2026

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

Humpback Mountain

PWSID NC1061009

Groundwater
System population served
25
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 RuleNC1061009Jan 1, 2025Addressed
Consumer Confidence RuleNC0161104Jul 1, 2024Resolved
Consumer Confidence RuleNC0156129Jul 1, 2024Resolved
Consumer Confidence RuleNC0156129Jul 1, 2023Resolved
Lead and Copper RuleNC1061009Jan 1, 2022Resolved
Consumer Confidence RuleNC0156129Jul 1, 2021Resolved

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 Spruce Pine

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 172 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.