LocalDataPoint

Holly Springs Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

40mg/L
Soft

2.3 grains per gallon

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

βœ“ Below action level

TDS

83 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.11

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below Β· Updated 2026

40mg/L as CaCO₃Soft

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 Holly Springs, your appliances are currently losing 5% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

ApplianceIn Holly SpringsSoft Water CityEfficiency Loss
Kettle
8.3 yrs
8.5 yrs-2%
Washing Machine
12.1 yrs
12 yrsβ€”
Water Heater
14 yrs
15 yrs-7%

Regional Water Comparison

How Holly Springs compares to its nearest neighbours

CityHardnessPFAS (ppt)RiskSource
β–Ά Holly Springs, North Carolina40 mg/L149.1 ppt🟒 Softreservoir
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolinaβ‰ˆ 0–60 mg/L245.2 ppt🟒 Softreservoir
Apex, North Carolinaβ‰ˆ 0–60 mg/L59.5 ppt🟒 Softreservoir
Cary, North Carolinaβ‰ˆ 0–60 mg/L71.5 ppt🟒 Softreservoir
Morrisville, North Carolina128 mg/L6.7 ppt🟠 Hardreservoir

National Benchmark

How Holly Springs compares to the USA average

BenchmarkHardnessAppliance Risk
β–Ά Holly Springs40 mg/L🟒 None
USA National Avg151 mg/L🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated0.02 mg/L🟒 None

Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Holly Springs home

Shop water softeners on Amazon.com β†’

Shop Now

What Makes Holly Springs's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 83 mg/LpH: 7

The Town of Holly Springs Utilities Department serves approximately 45,000 residents in Holly Springs, North Carolina, within Wake County. Water is sourced from purchased surface water, primarily reservoirs in the Neuse River Basin. There are no municipally owned treatment plants; the utility receives pre-treated water from regional sources and applies chlorine dioxide disinfection for final distribution. The department can be reached at 919-577-3150 or PO Box 8, Holly Springs, NC 27540, and serves a growing residential and commercial customer base across the town's service area.

The supply originates in the Neuse River Watershed, spanning the Piedmont physiographic province with Triassic sedimentary bedrock and overlying residuum soils. Key formations include the Chatham Group sandstones and mudstones of the Newark Supergroup, interbedded with diabase intrusions from the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province, which interact with surface runoff to impart a moderately mineralised character. No groundwater aquifers are utilized, so water chemistry reflects basin-wide precipitation, vegetation, and geological leaching from these mixed sedimentary-igneous Triassic Basin formations rather than deep karst or confined flows.

At 40 mg/L, Holly Springs' soft water causes minimal scale buildup in dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters. Soap lathers readily and spotting on glassware is limited; no water softener is required, though periodic vinegar rinses suffice for light fixture maintenance. Water quality is rated excellent with no EPA violations. Chlorine dioxide is used for disinfection, and trace levels of carbon tetrachloride and perfluorinated compounds have been noted but meet standards. The utility complies fully with lead and copper rules, and testing confirms safety across all measured contaminants.

Geology & Source: Neuse River Basin surface supply; Triassic Basin Newark Supergroup red beds β€” sandstone, siltstone, and shale interbedded with diabase intrusions produce soft to moderate hardness through rock weathering in the Piedmont

Other North Carolina Water Reports

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

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

Contact Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Holly Springs's water safe to drink?
Yes. Holly Springs's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 40 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 Holly Springs?
Holly Springs's water is soft at 40 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.
How does Holly Springs compare to the USA average?
The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Holly Springs (40 mg/L) is 111 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 Holly Springs 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 β€” the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

pH

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

Estimated

TDS β€” 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 β€” Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) β€” 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 β€” 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.