Mount Airy Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.6 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
292.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.35
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 Mount Airy, your appliances are currently losing 17% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Mount Airy | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -38% |
| Washing Machine | 8.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -27% |
| Water Heater | 10.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -31% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Mount Airy compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Mount Airy, North Carolina | 130.5 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Lewisville, North Carolina | 155 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Clemmons, North Carolina | 74.5 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Winston-Salem, North Carolina | 70 mg/L | 3.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Radford, Virginia | 82.5 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Mount Airy compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Mount Airy | 130.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Mount Airy's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Mount Airy, North Carolina, in Surry County — the Surry County seat adjacent to Dobson and Elkin on the Ararat River in the Blue Ridge Foothills of northwest North Carolina — receives its water from the City of Mount Airy Water Department, drawing from the Ararat River watershed through the northwest North Carolina distribution.
The hard 130.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 292.7 mg/L reflect the Surry County supply's hard Blue Ridge Foothills character — the Precambrian Blue Ridge Complex provides insoluble dilution, while the Cambrian Watauga River Group contributes slightly calcareous mineral content; Mount Airy's reservoir system concentrates hard mineral content from the north Surry County watershed geology (compare Dobson NC: 126/283 in Surry County comparable; Elkin NC: 134/302 in Surry County comparable; Mount Airy consistent hard from the same Surry County Ararat River Precambrian supply). The Ararat watershed — Precambrian Blue Ridge Complex (insoluble — primary dilutant), Cambrian Watauga River Group (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary Ararat River alluvium (slightly calcareous — minor TDS).
At 130.5 mg/L with TDS 293, Mount Airy's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 6.9 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the City of Mount Airy's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Mount Airy in Surry County draws from the Mount Airy Water on the Ararat River watershed (Surry County, Piedmont North Carolina) — the North Carolina Blue Ridge Foothills at Surry County draws from Precambrian Blue Ridge Complex (insoluble) and Cambrian Watauga River Group (slightly calcareous) — North Carolina Surry County Ararat River Precambrian supply produces hard water at 130.5 mg/L with TDS 292.7 mg/L.