Hardness
Soft
46.3 PPM · 2.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Wake Forest, NC 27587
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Wake County.
3 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- New Light Master
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Wake County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
3 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 2,619 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
46.3 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
46.3
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 46.3 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
41
Nearest site
2.5 mi
Observation range
Aug 2, 2016–Dec 12, 2023
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: WK-431 FOREST RIDGE PARK WAKE FOREST, NC BEDROCK (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 27587 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Wake Forest median
46 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 46.3–46.3 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
5 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.41 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2022
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
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.41
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 69
- Health-based
- 4
- Active health-based
- 3
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC4092074 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0392389 | Addressed | Oct 23, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0392389 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Oct 22, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC4092074 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Oct 22, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC4092014 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Oct 22, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0392207 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0392207 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 30, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NC0392207 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC4092014 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NC0392207 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jan 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0392207 | Resolved | Nov 20, 2024through Nov 26, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0392207 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| Chlorine | NC0392207 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0392389 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0392389 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC4092074 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC4092074 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC4092014 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC4092014 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0392207 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 27, 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 Wake Forest ZIP 27587 using 46.3 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS 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 Wake Forest
Is tap water safe in Wake Forest?+
EPA ECHO reports 3 active health-based violations among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 46.3 PPM, or 2.7 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.