Hardness
Soft
46.7 PPM · 2.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Zebulon, NC 27597
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.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Buffalo Creek S/d
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Wake 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
10 systems
Serves 721 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
46.7 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
46.7
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 46.7 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
45
Nearest site
5.6 mi
Observation range
Aug 2, 2016–Sep 11, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: WK-429 WENDELL MS NEAR WENDELL, NC BEDROCK (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 27597 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Zebulon median
47 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 46.7–46.7 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
6 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)
1.69 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2016
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 1.69
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 18
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0392180 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 26, 2025 |
| Nitrate | NC0392153 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0392121 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC4392153 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jan 2, 2025 |
| Nitrate | NC0392121 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Nitrate | NC0392153 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Nitrate | NC0392153 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0392154 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 15, 2023 |
| Nitrate | NC0392153 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| E. COLI | NC0392153 | Addressed | Nov 23, 2022 |
| Nitrate | NC0392153 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0392153 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Nov 9, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0392154 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 17, 2022 |
| Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | NC4092174 | Resolved | Aug 18, 2021through Nov 15, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0392180 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Oct 14, 2021 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0392153 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Apr 5, 2021 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0392153 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2015 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0392180 | Addressed | Jul 1, 1993 |
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 Zebulon ZIP 27597 using 46.7 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Zebulon
Is tap water safe in Zebulon?+
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 46.7 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.