Wake Forest Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
140.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.22
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 Wake Forest, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Wake Forest | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -19% |
| Washing Machine | 10.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -13% |
| Water Heater | 12.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -18% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Wake Forest compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Wake Forest, North Carolina | 82.5 mg/L | 4.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Knightdale, North Carolina | 102.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Raleigh, North Carolina | 85.5 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| West Raleigh, North Carolina | 126.5 mg/L | 6.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Garner, North Carolina | 140 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Wake Forest compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Wake Forest | 82.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Wake Forest's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Wake Forest, North Carolina, in Wake County north of Raleigh — a rapidly growing Wake County Raleigh north suburban community, one of the fastest-growing municipalities in North Carolina and the Triangle region, home of Wake Forest University (until the university relocated to Winston-Salem in 1956 — Wake Forest University originated in Wake Forest, NC), a major Triangle area suburban community in the booming Research Triangle Park corridor, and a diverse Wake County community — draws its municipal water supply from the Falls Lake via the Town of Wake Forest Water Division or City of Raleigh Water. Water hardness in Wake Forest measures 82.5 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Wake Forest's moderate softness reflects the Wake County Neuse River–Falls Lake watershed's calcareous-poor Piedmont crystalline geology. The Neuse River watershed at Falls Lake drains: the Raleigh Belt (Precambrian calcareous-poor Raleigh Gneiss — the Raleigh Belt metamorphic complex of central Wake County, calcareous-poor); the Carolina Slate Belt (Neoproterozoic calcareous-poor volcanic and sedimentary arc rocks — the calcareous-poor volcanic-arc metavolcanic and metasedimentary terrain of the Carolina Terrane). The calcareous-poor Wake County Piedmont watershed produces the moderate 82.5 mg/L.
With hardness at 82.5 mg/L, Wake Forest residents enjoy moderately soft water. Town of Wake Forest Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all North Carolina NCDEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Falls Lake (Neuse River) via the Town of Wake Forest Water Division (or City of Raleigh Water) — the Wake County north-central North Carolina Piedmont (Precambrian–Paleozoic calcareous-poor Piedmont crystalline gneiss of the Carolina slate belt and Raleigh Belt); moderately soft supply at 82.5 mg/L in Wake County.