How does Apex's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Apex (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Apex Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.3

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

84 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · est.

0–60

mg/L

Soft

61–120

mg/L

Moderately Hard

121–180

mg/L

Hard

180+

mg/L

Very Hard

Appliance Damage Report

In Apex, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Apex	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Apex compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Apex, North Carolina	≈ 0–59 mg/L	59.5 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Holly Springs, North Carolina	40 mg/L	149.1 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Cary, North Carolina	≈ 0–60 mg/L	71.5 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Morrisville, North Carolina	128 mg/L	6.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina	≈ 0–60 mg/L	245.2 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Apex compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Apex	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Apex's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 84 mg/LpH: 7.3

The APEX, TOWN OF utility serves over 70,000 people in Apex, Wake County, North Carolina, maintaining 254 miles of waterlines to more than 17,000 households. Drinking water is sourced exclusively from Jordan Lake, a major reservoir managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The town purchases treated surface water, with final processing at local facilities using conventional filtration, chloramines, and ozone disinfection. No groundwater is used, and the utility reports no MCL violations, with all contaminants meeting EPA standards.

Jordan Lake lies within the expansive Cape Fear River watershed, spanning the Piedmont physiographic province of central North Carolina. Underlying geology features deeply weathered metamorphic rocks from the Carolina Terrane, including amphibolite-grade gneisses and schists with minor volcanics, lacking significant limestone or dolomite formations. This non-carbonate bedrock produces a naturally soft supply with low dissolved solids. Seasonal runoff from the watershed's clay-rich soils adds tannins but contributes minimal hardness ions, shaping the water's low-mineral profile prior to treatment.

As soft water, Apex's supply causes no scale buildup in pipes or appliances, avoiding reduced efficiency in water heaters, dishwashers, or washing machines. Soap lathers easily and skin feels less dry compared to harder-water areas. No water softener is needed or recommended; sediment filters may help if tannins cause staining. Water quality testing confirms compliance with all EPA MCLGs, using chloramines and ozone disinfection after conventional filtration; the 2026 report shows zero violations, with contaminants well below health guidelines and no specific PFAS, lead, or copper issues noted.

Geology & Source: Jordan Lake, Haw River — Piedmont metamorphic and igneous rocks of the Precambrian–Paleozoic Carolina Slate Belt (gneisses, schists, granitic intrusions); minimal carbonate content and red clay soils produce naturally soft water

Other North Carolina Water Reports

Holly Springs

40 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Cary

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Morrisville

128 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Fuquay-Varina

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Apex's water safe to drink?

Yes. Apex's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Apex?

Apex's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Apex compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Apex (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Apex is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.