Hardness
Moderately Hard
98.5 PPM · 5.8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Wilmington, NC 28409
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for New Hanover County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Cfpua-Wilmington
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- New Hanover 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
7 systems
Serves 212,227 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
98.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
98.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
5.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 98.5 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
2
Nearest site
6.1 mi
Observation range
May 8, 2017–May 9, 2017
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: CAPE FEAR RIVER ADJ TO RIVER RD NR BURNETT, NC (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 28409 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Wilmington median
34 PPM
65 PPM higher5 indexed ZIP readings · Range 34–98.5 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
58 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, 2028
Copper (CU90)
1.559 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2015
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 1.559
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 15
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | NC0465199 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0465119 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NC0465119 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate | NC0465010 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate | NC0465010 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Nitrate | NC0465010 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0465206 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NC0465119 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Nov 20, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NC0465119 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Nov 20, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0465199 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Dec 11, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0465211 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 29, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0465119 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Nov 9, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0465211 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 28, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0465211 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Oct 23, 2021 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0465211 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 2, 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 Wilmington ZIP 28409 using 98.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile) 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 Wilmington
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Wilmington
Is tap water safe in Wilmington?+
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 98.5 PPM, or 5.8 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.