Water hardness in Asheville
0.3 gpg soft
Tap water in Asheville is soft: 0.3 gpg (6 mg/L · 0.3 °dH · 0.6 °fH).
Source: City of Asheville 2025 Annual Water Quality Report, 2025 Physical and Mineral Characteristics (2025) · data checked 2026-10-23
Asheville's water comes from the North Fork and Bee Tree reservoirs, set in protected forest in the Blue Ridge, and from the Mills River. Rain on old crystalline rock leaves almost no dissolved minerals, giving extremely soft water at 5.5 mg/L CaCO₃. A softener is unnecessary.
USGS classes: soft 0–60, moderately hard 61–120, hard 121–180, very hard >180 mg/L.
Water data
| Total hardness | 0.3 gpg |
|---|---|
| Utility | City of Asheville Water Resources Department, PWSID NC0111010 |
How Asheville compares
- Tap water in Asheville is 96 % softer than the median of the 1372 cities we track in the United States (9.1 gpg).
- By hardness it ranks 1372 of 1372 in the United States (1 = hardest); 0 % of these cities have softer water.
- In North Carolina it is number 15 of 15 cities; the regional median is 1.5 gpg.
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Knoxville, 130 km away (5.5 gpg).
Ranking of the hardest and softest water in the United States →
What it means at home
- Little or no limescale in kettles, water heaters or washing machines.
- Soap lathers easily; water does not dry skin or hair.
- Dishwasher: salt setting at minimum or off.
- No softener needed; a jug filter only changes taste.
How much salt will you use for softening?
No. Water this soft does not need softening.
Descale a coffee machine or kettle about every 6 months (typical manufacturer guidance for this hardness).
Estimates for planning, not a quote. Check your appliance manual for exact settings.
Dishwasher setting in Asheville
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H00 |
| Miele | 1 °dH |
| AEG / Electrolux | 1 |
| Beko | 1st |
| Hoover | S0 |
| LG | H0 |
From each brand's manual for the model family named in the source; your model may differ, so check its manual. All brands and how to change the setting →
FAQ
Is Asheville water hard or soft?
It is soft: 6 mg/L as CaCO₃ (0.3 gpg, 0.3 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Asheville safe to drink?
Hardness is not a health issue; it is about limescale, taste and appliances. Mains water must meet national drinking-water standards. USGS classes: soft 0–60, moderately hard 61–120, hard 121–180, very hard >180 mg/L.
How many grains per gallon is Asheville water?
0.3 gpg, equal to 0.3 °dH, 0.6 °fH or 6 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Asheville?
For 6 mg/L (0.3 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: level 0–1, usually no salt.
Do I need a water softener in Asheville?
No. With soft water a softener adds nothing.
Source
Source: City of Asheville 2025 Annual Water Quality Report, 2025 Physical and Mineral Characteristics (2025). Method: figure published by the water supplier. City of Asheville 2025 Annual Water Quality Report, 2025 Physical and Mineral Characteristics · Outdated figure? Tell us