Government sampling of groundwater in Brunswick County, NC, specifically from aquifer 211PEED, shows calcium and magnesium levels that relate to laundry fading concerns. These samples were taken from five wells between 36 and 200 feet deep from 2012 to 2017. Median measured hardness was 150.2 mg/L, with a range from 16.8 to 249.0 mg/L. No federal limits were exceeded in the samples, indicating levels within accepted regulatory boundaries.
If your laundry fading might be caused by water minerals, start with visual and simple home checks
Before considering complex water treatment, observe the type and frequency of fabric fading. Try washing with different detergents or water sources, if possible, to see if fading persists. Next, test water hardness at home using simple test strips available from retail sources. If these preliminary checks suggest mineral-related fading, more detailed laboratory analysis can quantify exact calcium and magnesium content.
If the Brunswick County aquifer measurements show a wide hardness range, what does that mean for your water?
The recorded range from 16.8 to 249.0 mg/L in this area represents variability common in groundwater wells. All samples were below federal thresholds, so none indicate a health concern related to hardness. However, hardness within this range can affect laundry by contributing to fabric fading and stiffness. Understanding that detection of hardness minerals is normal helps focus on treatment aimed at laundry quality rather than safety.
If you choose the Fleck Faded, Stiff Laundry System, here's what to expect for your maintenance routine
This system ships ready to configure and requires regular replenishing of its treatment media per the product guidelines, typically on a schedule matching household water use patterns. The maintenance rhythm involves monitoring when the system’s capacity to address mineral effects diminishes and refreshing accordingly to maintain laundry quality and reduce fading and stiffness.
If you want advice on which treatment fits, write down these key facts before consulting any resource
- Exact results of any laboratory water testing for calcium, magnesium, and total hardness from your own water source
- Frequency and severity of laundry fading and stiffness you observe in your household
- Details about your well depth and water source if known
- Previous water treatment methods tried and their outcomes
If you compare the Brunswick County median and range to your water quality, consider this example
A homeowner’s well might fall anywhere within the sampled range, so if their lab test shows hardness near 150 mg/L—similar to the median—they can expect mineral effects consistent with the recorded data. This means treatments like the Fleck Faded, Stiff Laundry System can be effective in addressing mineral-related faded laundry issues by managing these commonly present minerals.
This information summarizes government groundwater sampling for Brunswick County aquifer 211PEED, reflecting data from several wells sampled between 2012 and 2017. For more detailed records, consult the U.S. Geological Survey groundwater data available online.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2017-05-08. These figures describe groundwater sampled in this area. They are not a test of any individual private well - only a test of that well can establish its own water.
On record: U.S. Geological Survey sampling of Hardness, Ca, Mg in the 211PEED aquifer (Brunswick County): 6 results from 5 wells, median 150.2 mg/L, range 16.8-249.0 mg/L; none above any federal threshold