WaterVerge

Is Mill Spring, SC Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A+ with no contaminants above EPA limits. Here's everything we tested and how Mill Spring ranks. What to do next ↓

838 residents served 1 water system PWSID: NC1075010
Overall Score
95 / 100
Violations
None active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Purchased surface water
#8 of 196 in South Carolina Top 3% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
A+GRADE
Water Quality Grade
95/100
waterverge.com
A+ 95/100

Mill Spring, SC — Water Quality Report

Mill Spring's drinking water received a grade of A+ (95 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 838 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 1 violation on record, including 0 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Mill Spring's water

Mill Spring ranks #8 out of 196 cities in South Carolina for water quality, placing it one of the best 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.

As a small community water system, Mill Spring may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
95 out of 100 Grade A+
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
44/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
10/10
A
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
4/5
B
Water source: Purchased surface water.
Water Safety

Is Mill Spring, SC water safe to drink?

Generally Safe

Based on EPA testing data, Mill Spring's tap water is generally safe to drink. The water system earned a grade of A+ (95/100), meeting federal drinking water standards across key contaminant categories. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 838 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).

1
Violations (5yr)
0.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
10 events
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Mill Spring

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Mill Spring's water quality assessment. Grade: A+ (95/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: TTHM.

Disaster
HURRICANE HELENE

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-4829). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Disaster
HURRICANE IDALIA

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3597). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Mill Spring's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Mill Spring's water system has 1 total violation on record, including 0 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved. 1 violation was issued in the last 5 years.

MR
Most recent violations:
Jan 2025 TTHM Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Spartanburg County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 2015. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies. Local water sources include North Pacolet River, South Pacolet River Nr Campobello, Lake William C. Bowen, Pacolet River, Lawsons Fork Creek.

HURRICANE HELENE
Hurricane FEMA DR-4829
HURRICANE IDALIA
Hurricane FEMA DR-3597
HURRICANE IAN
Hurricane FEMA DR-4677

Where does Mill Spring's water come from?

Mill Spring's drinking water comes from surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 838 people. Surface water sources are more susceptible to contamination from runoff, industrial discharge, and algal blooms, requiring extensive treatment. Nearby water bodies include North Pacolet River (river), South Pacolet River Nr Campobello (river), Lake William C. Bowen (lake), Pacolet River (river), Lawsons Fork Creek (river).

What Mill Spring residents can do

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Monitor alerts during storms

Mill Spring's area has a history of flooding. After severe weather, watch for boil water advisories from your local utility.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
0.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 0% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

1
Total violations
0
Health-based
0
Active / unresolved
Jan 2025
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

1 Total
0 Active
0 Health-based
1 Resolved
Jan 2025 Resolved
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 2025
Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

10
Declared disasters
Sep 2024
Most recent
Hurricane
Most common type

Spartanburg County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 2015. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

Sep 2024
HURRICANE HELENE
Hurricane FEMA #4829
Aug 2023
HURRICANE IDALIA
Hurricane FEMA #3597
Nov 2022
HURRICANE IAN
Hurricane FEMA #4677
Sep 2022
HURRICANE IAN
Hurricane FEMA #3585
Sep 2019
HURRICANE DORIAN
Hurricane FEMA #3421
Sep 2018
HURRICANE FLORENCE
Hurricane FEMA #3400

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 0.0 ppb from 2009 (0.0 ppb) to 2025 (0.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Purchased Surface Water
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
838
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Mill Spring's water comes from

Purchased Surface Water

Mill Spring's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.

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 838 people through 1 water system.

Local Hydrology

Water bodies near Mill Spring

Mill Spring is located near 5 notable water bodies. As a surface water system, these water bodies may directly influence the city's drinking water supply.

North Pacolet River
river
South Pacolet River Nr Campobello
river
Lake William C. Bowen
lake
Pacolet River
river
Lawsons Fork Creek
river
Infrastructure

Water systems serving Mill Spring

System Name PWSID Population Source
POLK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM NC1075010 838 SWP
Regional Comparison

How Mill Spring compares

Full South Carolina rankings →

Mill Spring's score of 95/100 is above the average of 77/100 among major South Carolina cities. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities.

Mill Spring (this city)
95
Greenville
92.1
Charleston
82.8
Columbia
37.1
Conway
67.5
Okatie
83.8
South Carolina avg
77
City Profile

About Mill Spring, SC

Wikipedia →

Inman is a city in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States, part of the Spartanburg metropolitan area. With a population of 3,665 at the 2020 census, Inman residents have access to nearby Lake Bowen that affords water recreational sports and fishing, and Inman is accessible by Interstate 26 and Interstate 85. The city contains a historic main street district, several houses of worship, and a school district.

Economic Profile
$50,938
Median Income
$128,467
Median Home Value
$882/mo
Median Rent
3.9%
Unemployment
Community
38.5
Median Age
667
People / sq mi
17.9%
College Educated
65.3%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Mill Spring, SC tap water safe to drink?

Mill Spring's water quality earned a grade of A+ (95/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #8 out of 196 cities tested in South Carolina.

What contaminants are in Mill Spring's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 1 violation is on record.

How is Mill Spring'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 Mill Spring?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Mill Spring's water come from?

Mill Spring's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 838 residents.

How does Mill Spring's water compare to other cities?

Mill Spring ranks #8 out of 196 cities in South Carolina (better than 96% of state cities) and #392 out of 15744 cities nationally (98th percentile). The grade of A+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Mill Spring's small water system affect quality?

Mill Spring's system serves approximately 838 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 1 violation on record.