Fort Bragg Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
169.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Fort Bragg, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Fort Bragg | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -20% |
| Washing Machine | 9.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -20% |
| Water Heater | 12 yrs | 15 yrs | -20% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Fort Bragg compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fort Bragg, North Carolina | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 198.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Spring Lake, North Carolina | 121.5 mg/L | 271.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Fayetteville, North Carolina | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 509.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | river |
| Hope Mills, North Carolina | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Sanford, North Carolina | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 247.5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Fort Bragg compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fort Bragg | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Fort Bragg's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Fort Bragg (now officially Fort Liberty) water service is provided by American States Utility Services (ASUS Inc.), which operates the water system for the military installation in Cumberland County, North Carolina. The utility draws from both surface water via the Cape Fear River system and groundwater sources, with treatment facilities serving the base's residential, commercial, and operational needs. The system operates under EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards, and the utility publishes annual Water Quality Reports and Water Quality Notifications.
The Cape Fear River watershed dominates the region's hydrology, flowing through Cretaceous-age sedimentary deposits and Quaternary Coastal Plain materials. These geological formations — primarily sandy and clayey strata — contain dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium carbonates. Groundwater supplies are drawn from Cretaceous aquifers underlying the Coastal Plain, which contribute moderate to elevated mineral concentrations. The combination of surface and groundwater sources produces a hard water supply characteristic of North Carolina's transition zone between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
Hard water at Fort Bragg causes mineral buildup in water heaters, kettles, and appliances over time; soap and detergent efficiency is reduced and scale forms readily on fixtures and pipes. A water softener is recommended for households and facilities to extend appliance lifespan, improve cleaning efficiency, and reduce maintenance costs. Recent water quality testing (March 2023) detected PFOA and PFOS at 12.3 ppt in finished drinking water, with a remote training location recording 95 ppt — linked to aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) used in firefighting training; the utility continues monitoring PFAS and other contaminants with standard treatment processes.
Geology & Source: Cape Fear River watershed — Cretaceous sedimentary and Quaternary Coastal Plain strata; sandy and clayey formations with calcium and magnesium carbonates; Cretaceous aquifers contribute elevated minerals; hard water typical of NC Piedmont-Coastal
Other North Carolina Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Bragg's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Fort Bragg?
How does Fort Bragg compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Fort Bragg is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.