Rock Hill Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
165.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.23
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 Rock Hill, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Rock Hill | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -21% |
| Washing Machine | 10.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -14% |
| Water Heater | 12.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -19% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Rock Hill compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rock Hill, South Carolina | 88 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Fort Mill, South Carolina | 138 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Waxhaw, North Carolina | 104.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | 152.5 mg/L | 8.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Matthews, North Carolina | 154 mg/L | 8.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Rock Hill compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rock Hill | 88 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Rock Hill's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Rock Hill, South Carolina, the York County seat in the Charlotte metro area (South Carolina's fourth-largest city), draws its municipal water supply from Lake Wylie (the Catawba River reservoir on the South Carolina–North Carolina border) via the City of Rock Hill Utility Services Division, treating Lake Wylie water at the Rock Hill Water Treatment Plant. Lake Wylie is one of the Duke Energy Catawba–Wateree reservoir chain in the western Piedmont. Water hardness in Rock Hill measures 88 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Rock Hill's moderately soft supply reflects the Catawba River watershed's Piedmont crystalline geology. Lake Wylie at the South Carolina–North Carolina border drains the Piedmont Crystalline Belt: the Charlotte Belt (Precambrian–Cambrian metagranite and granodiorite gneiss of the western Piedmont); the Carolina Slate Belt (Cambrian volcanic arc metasediments — phyllite, metavolcanic rock); and the Kings Mountain Belt (minor calcareous marble and schist). The predominantly crystalline and siliceous metamorphic rock terrain produces naturally soft water — the Charlotte and Carolina Slate Belt gneiss and phyllite dissolve very slowly in surface water. The 88 mg/L reflects the modest calcium contribution from the Kings Mountain Belt's marble and schist in the upper Catawba tributaries.
With hardness at 88 mg/L, Rock Hill residents enjoy moderately soft water with minimal scale challenges. City of Rock Hill Utility Services consistently delivers water meeting all South Carolina DHEC and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Catawba River (Lake Wylie) via the City of Rock Hill Utility Services Division — the Catawba River Piedmont watershed (Precambrian–Paleozoic Charlotte Belt metagranite and Carolina Slate Belt volcanic sediment) of York County; moderately soft supply at 88 mg/L in York County.