Manganese Contamination

Manganese in South Carolina Drinking Water

Ranked by max manganese detected (µg/L) · UCMR 4 data (2018–2020) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

Cities Tested

Over SMCL

% Over SMCL

44.6 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 14% vs national

vs National

151

Health Violations

Analysis

Manganese in South Carolina: what the data shows

South Carolina has 68 cities with manganese data from the EPA's UCMR 4 program (2018–2020). Manganese exceeded the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL in 3 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 44.6 µg/L. Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water. Elevated levels are common in areas with iron-rich geology and in systems that draw from reservoirs with low dissolved oxygen. The secondary MCL of 50 µg/L is based on aesthetic concerns (taste, staining), but health-based guidelines suggest neurological effects at higher concentrations. Emerging research links chronic manganese exposure in drinking water to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ and behavioral issues. Oxidation filtration and water softeners are effective at removing manganese from household water.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 50 µg/L EPA Secondary MCL

South Carolina

3 of 68 cities

← ▼ 14% below national rate (better)

National avg

18%

729 of 4068 cities

City Map

Manganese data across South Carolina

Each dot is a city with UCMR 4 manganese testing data. Cities where manganese exceeds the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by manganese level in South Carolina

Highest Manganese levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All South Carolina cities ranked by manganese level

#	City	Level	Over SMCL?	Violations	Grade
1	Cayce	1120.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A-
2	Sumter	1090.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	15	D
3	Laurens	68.5 µg/L	Over SMCL	17	B-
4	Marion	47.6 µg/L	No	4	A
5	Okatie	37.3 µg/L	No	7	B+
6	Donalds	36.0 µg/L	No	3	B+
7	Graniteville	32.9 µg/L	No	3	A-
8	Hilton Head Island	31.1 µg/L	No	4	B-
9	Conway	30.9 µg/L	No	14	C+
10	Camden	29.0 µg/L	No	7	B+
11	Santee	29.0 µg/L	No	2	B-
12	Westminster	27.8 µg/L	No	8	C-
13	Pickens	26.9 µg/L	No	7	B+
14	Aiken	25.9 µg/L	No	11	D
15	Lexington	24.6 µg/L	No	55	F
16	Johns Island (Sta.)	20.4 µg/L	No	1	A-
17	Columbia	19.3 µg/L	No	80	F
18	Dalzell	18.3 µg/L	No	7	B-
19	Orangeburg	17.7 µg/L	No	3	A-
20	Fort Mill	15.6 µg/L	No	26	B-
21	North Augusta	15.2 µg/L	No	13	B+
22	Charleston	14.4 µg/L	No	5	B+
23	Yemassee	13.7 µg/L	No	0	A
24	West Columbia	13.5 µg/L	No	87	F
25	Lyman	12.5 µg/L	No	2	A+
26	North Charleston	11.4 µg/L	No	0	B
27	Easley	11.1 µg/L	No	2	B+
28	Belton	11.0 µg/L	No	13	B
29	Clemson	11.0 µg/L	No	4	B+
30	Florence	10.7 µg/L	No	3	B+
31	Myrtle Beach	10.5 µg/L	No	17	B-
32	Mount Pleasant	10.4 µg/L	No	1	B+
33	La France	10.3 µg/L	No	0	A-
34	Lake City	8.7 µg/L	No	0	A+
35	North Myrtle Beach	8.2 µg/L	No	4	B+
36	Fort Jackson	7.5 µg/L	No	8	A-
37	West Anderson	6.9 µg/L	No	1	A
38	Greenwood	6.9 µg/L	No	14	C
39	Lugoff	6.7 µg/L	No	13	B+
40	York	6.6 µg/L	No	65	F
41	Cassatt	6.1 µg/L	No	4	A
42	Beech Island	5.0 µg/L	No	0	B+
43	Seneca	4.7 µg/L	No	0	A
44	Rock Hill	4.4 µg/L	No	45	F
45	Landrum	4.0 µg/L	No	3	A-
46	Summerville	3.7 µg/L	No	22	C+
47	Dillon	3.7 µg/L	No	2	A
48	Anderson	3.6 µg/L	No	15	C+
49	Gaffney	3.6 µg/L	No	12	C+
50	Lancaster	3.6 µg/L	No	33	B+
51	Walterboro	3.4 µg/L	No	0	A+
52	Chesnee	3.2 µg/L	No	0	A-
53	Six Mile	2.6 µg/L	No	1	A+
54	Pawleys Island	2.5 µg/L	No	13	B-
55	Fort Lawn	2.5 µg/L	No	7	B+
56	Woodruff	2.5 µg/L	No	5	A-
57	Moncks Corner	2.2 µg/L	No	6	B-
58	Greenville	2.2 µg/L	No	9	A
59	Chesterfield	2.2 µg/L	No	10	A-
60	St. George	1.9 µg/L	No	0	A-
61	Goose Creek	1.8 µg/L	No	0	B+
62	Darlington	1.8 µg/L	No	6	B+
63	Inman	1.4 µg/L	No	1	A
64	Greer	0.9 µg/L	No	3	A
65	Spartanburg	0.8 µg/L	No	2	A
66	Newberry	0.5 µg/L	No	28	C
67	Chapin	0.5 µg/L	No	33	D+
68	Walhalla	0.4 µg/L	No	1	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about manganese in South Carolina

Is manganese in South Carolina tap water harmful?

The EPA secondary MCL for manganese is 50 µg/L, set primarily for aesthetic reasons (taste, color, staining). 3 cities in South Carolina exceed the secondary MCL. However, emerging research links chronic manganese exposure above 50–100 µg/L to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ.

How can I remove manganese from my drinking water?

Oxidation filtration (such as greensand or birm filters) is the most common and effective method for removing manganese from well water. Water softeners using ion exchange also work well. Standard carbon filters provide limited manganese removal. If your water has a metallic taste or brown/black discoloration, manganese may be the cause.

What causes high manganese in South Carolina water?

Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water, particularly in areas with iron-rich geology. Low dissolved oxygen conditions (common in deep wells and reservoir bottom waters) increase manganese solubility. Industrial sources include mining, steel production, and battery manufacturing. Seasonal changes in reservoir water chemistry can cause manganese spikes.

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