Is North Carolina tap water hard or soft?
Mostly not. 0 % of the 15 cities with published data in North Carolina have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L). The median is 1.5 gpg, from 0.3 gpg in Asheville to 2.9 gpg in Wilmington.
We have published hardness data for 15 cities in North Carolina. The median is 1.5 gpg; the hardest water is in Wilmington (2.9 gpg), the softest in Asheville (0.3 gpg).
0 % of these cities have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L).
USGS classes: soft 0–60, moderately hard 61–120, hard 121–180, very hard >180 mg/L.
Cities in North Carolina, hardest first
| gpg | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 2.9 | 50 | soft |
| Holly Springs | 2.3 | 40 | soft |
| Apex | 1.9 | 33 | soft |
| Charlotte | 1.9 | 32 | soft |
| Leland | 1.8 | 31 | soft |
| Burlington | 1.6 | 28 | soft |
| Fuquay-Varina | 1.5 | 25 | soft |
| Raleigh | 1.5 | 25 | soft |
| Wake Forest | 1.5 | 25 | soft |
| Salisbury | 1.3 | 23 | soft |
| Clemmons | 1 | 18 | soft |
| Winston-Salem | 1 | 18 | soft |
| Hickory | 1 | 16 | soft |
| Southern Pines | 0.6 | 10 | soft |
| Asheville | 0.3 | 6 | soft |
FAQ
Is North Carolina water hard or soft?
Mostly not. 0 % of the 15 cities we cover have hard or very hard water; the median is 1.5 gpg.
Which city in North Carolina has the hardest water?
Wilmington, at 2.9 gpg, has the hardest water of the 15 cities with published data.
Which city in North Carolina has the softest water?
Asheville, at 0.3 gpg, has the softest water of the 15 cities with published data.
Do I need a water softener in North Carolina?
Above about 120 mg/L (7 gpg) scale builds up in water heaters, kettles and dishwashers, and a softener or at least regular descaling pays off. Look up your own city in the table: in North Carolina the values range from 0.3 gpg to 2.9 gpg.
On a private well? Well water hardness in North Carolina by county →