Elon Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.7 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
359.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
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 Elon, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Elon | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -45% |
| Washing Machine | 8.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -33% |
| Water Heater | 9.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -35% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Elon compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Elon, North Carolina | 148.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Burlington, North Carolina | 66.5 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Graham, North Carolina | 65.5 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Mebane, North Carolina | 66.5 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Greensboro, North Carolina | 92 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Elon compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Elon | 148.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Elon's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Elon, North Carolina, in Alamance County — an Alamance County town adjacent to Burlington and Graham in north-central North Carolina — receives its water from the Town of Elon Water Department, drawing from the Haw River/Burlington reservoir system through the north-central North Carolina distribution.
The hard 148.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 359.9 mg/L reflect the Alamance County supply's hard North Carolina Piedmont character — the Precambrian Uwharrie Formation and Cambrian Hyco Formation are slightly calcareous formations in the North Carolina Piedmont; the Haw River at Alamance County acquires substantial dissolved mineral content from its North Carolina Piedmont metamorphic and calcareous drainage (compare Burlington NC: 144/349 in Alamance County comparable; Graham NC: 152/370 in Alamance County comparable; Elon consistent hard from the same Alamance County Haw River Precambrian supply). The Haw River/Burlington reservoir — Precambrian Uwharrie Formation (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Cambrian Hyco Formation (slightly calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Alamance County Piedmont alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 148.5 mg/L with TDS 360, Elon's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 7.8 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the Town of Elon's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Elon in Alamance County draws from the Elon Water on the Haw River/Burlington reservoir (Alamance County, north-central North Carolina) — the North Carolina Piedmont at Alamance County draws from Precambrian Uwharrie Formation (slightly calcareous) and Cambrian Hyco Formation (slightly calcareous) — North Carolina Alamance County Haw River Precambrian supply produces hard water at 148.5 mg/L with TDS 359.9 mg/L.