How does Mount Airy's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Mount Airy (130.5 mg/L) is 20 mg/L softer than average.

Mount Airy Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

130.5mg/L

Hard

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: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

130.5mg/L as CaCO₃Hard

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	7.1 yrs	8.5 yrs	-16%
Washing Machine	10 yrs	12 yrs	-17%
Water Heater	12.5 yrs	15 yrs	-17%

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	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Lewisville, North Carolina	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Clemmons, North Carolina	≈ 0–60 mg/L	4 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Winston-Salem, North Carolina	≈ 0–60 mg/L	5 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Radford, Virginia	82.5 mg/L	0 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	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Mount Airy's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 292.7 mg/LpH: 7.9

The City of Mount Airy Water Utility provides drinking water to about 10,314 residents in North Carolina. Its main water source is Lovills Creek, with water drawn from the creek and treated at the Spencer Facility on Orchard Street. The utility uses conventional treatment methods and hypochlorite for disinfection. Managed by the Public Works Department, Mount Airy's water system adheres to all EPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goals.

Mount Airy is located in North Carolina's Piedmont region, a watershed area characterized by metamorphic bedrock. This includes granite, gneiss, and schist formations common in the Blue Ridge foothills. Lovills Creek flows through terrain dominated by Precambrian to Paleozoic crystalline rocks. Unlike areas with limestone or dolomite, these geological features generally dissolve fewer minerals into the surface water, resulting in water with moderate mineral content.

While specific hardness levels aren't detailed here, the geology suggests the water likely won't cause significant scale buildup in appliances or pipes. Residents can find detailed water quality parameters, including hardness, in the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report. Seasonal changes in Lovills Creek flow and precipitation can affect water chemistry. The City of Mount Airy is also working to replace lead service lines in its distribution system. For further information, you can contact the Public Works Director.

Geology & Source: Piedmont metamorphic terrain; granite, gneiss, and schist yield softer water

Other North Carolina Water Reports

Lewisville

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Clemmons

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Winston-Salem

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Radford

82.5 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

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!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mount Airy's water safe to drink?

Yes. Mount Airy's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 130.5 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Mount Airy?

At 130.5 mg/L (Hard), Mount Airy's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 17%.

How does Mount Airy compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Mount Airy (130.5 mg/L) is 20 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 Mount Airy 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 — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

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

Estimated

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.

Measured

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.

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 — 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.