01The verdict: is Carlisle water safe?
Carlisle's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of B (75.3/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 3,652 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
1,4-Dioxane is over its legal limit
Measured at 0.90 µg/L against the EPA Health Advisory of 0.35 µg/L. The ledger below shows how far over — and which filter removes it.
See the measurement ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓Chlorate is approaching its limit
Measured at 200.0 µg/L — 95% of the 210 µg/L limit. Within the rules, but with less headroom than you'd want.
See the ledger ↓Carlisle's drinking water received a grade of B (75.3 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 3,652 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 26 violations on record, including 15 health-based violations. 3 remain unresolved.
Carlisle ranks #159 out of 195 cities in South Carolina for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) was detected at 0.08 µg/L in UCMR 3 testing. While below California's 10 µg/L limit and with no federal MCL set, residents sensitive to this contaminant may consider reverse osmosis filtration. The system has seen 9 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Carlisle's water
Every contaminant flagged in Carlisle, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in South Carolina
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in South Carolina
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Carlisle's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 26 violations on record, including 15 health-based violations. 3 remain unresolved.
7 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 5 ppb since 1994. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2025) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Carlisle's water comes from
Carlisle's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
2 systems
2 water systems, operated under local government ownership.
3,652 people
Residents served across Carlisle's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 3,652 people through 2 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANTUCK HEBRON WATER CO (4420007) | SC4420007 | 3,097 | Purchased Surface Water |
| CARLISLE TOWN OF (4410003) | SC4410003 | 555 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near Carlisle
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Carlisle's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Carlisle's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Industrial discharge
2 facilities within 10 miles reported 42 lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.
Flood & storm history
10 federal disaster declarations on record for Union County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Union County is in D2 (severe drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Carlisle compares
Scores for nearby South Carolina cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = South Carolina average (77/100)
Carlisle scores 75.3/100 — on par with the South Carolina average of 77/100. It outscores 4 of 10 nearby cities. Full South Carolina rankings →
92.1 / 100BCharleston, SC
82.8 / 100FColumbia, SC
37.1 / 100CConway, SC
67.5 / 100BOkatie, SC
83.8 / 100ASpartanburg, SC
91.4 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Carlisle's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Carlisle's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Carlisle alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Carlisle, SC tap water safe to drink?
Carlisle's water quality earned a grade of B (75.3/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #159 out of 195 cities tested in South Carolina.
What contaminants are in Carlisle's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 26 violations are on record.
How is Carlisle's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Carlisle?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Carlisle's water come from?
Carlisle's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 2 water systems serving approximately 3,652 residents.
What health violations has Carlisle's water system had?
Carlisle has 15 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in October 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 3 violations remain unresolved.
How does Carlisle's water compare to other cities?
Carlisle ranks #159 out of 195 cities in South Carolina (better than 18% of state cities) and #9511 out of 15382 cities nationally (38th percentile). The grade of B reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.