Jacksonville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.9 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
374.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.41
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 Jacksonville, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Jacksonville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -46% |
| Washing Machine | 7.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -34% |
| Water Heater | 9.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -37% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Jacksonville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Jacksonville, North Carolina | 153 mg/L | 7.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Piney Green, North Carolina | 125.5 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| New Bern, North Carolina | 78.5 mg/L | 4.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Kinston, North Carolina | 99.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Havelock, North Carolina | 142 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Jacksonville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Jacksonville | 153 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Jacksonville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Jacksonville, North Carolina, the Onslow County seat on the New River — home of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, the largest Marine Corps installation on the US East Coast — draws its municipal water supply from the Castle Hayne Aquifer (Eocene Castle Hayne Limestone) and New River surface water via the City of Jacksonville Utilities Water Division, accessing the calcareous Eocene limestone aquifer of the North Carolina Atlantic Coastal Plain in Onslow County. Water hardness in Jacksonville measures 153 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Jacksonville's moderately hard supply reflects the Onslow County Coastal Plain's Eocene limestone aquifer geology. The Castle Hayne Aquifer is formed in the Eocene Castle Hayne Limestone — a shallow calcareous limestone unit of the North Carolina–South Carolina Coastal Plain, famous for its pure calcium carbonate (nummulitic limestone with abundant fossil foraminifera and mollusks). The Castle Hayne Limestone in Onslow County is moderately reactive — its calcareous composition dissolves in groundwater circulation to produce the moderately hard 153 mg/L supply at Jacksonville. The Castle Hayne Aquifer is the primary drinking water source for most of coastal southeastern North Carolina and southern Onslow County.
At 153 mg/L, Jacksonville residents face moderate scale challenges. Scale deposits form on faucet aerators, showerheads, and appliances after a few months — monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is practical maintenance. City of Jacksonville Utilities Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all North Carolina DEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Castle Hayne Aquifer (Eocene Limestone) and the Peedee Formation via the City of Jacksonville Utilities Water Division — the North Carolina Atlantic Coastal Plain Eocene Castle Hayne Limestone of Onslow County near the New River; moderately hard supply at 153 mg/L in Onslow County.