WaterVerge
Alerts Cities States PFAS Tracker Guides News Maps Glossary Methodology

South Carolina Water Quality Rankings

196 cities ranked · Data from EPA SDWIS

81.8
State avg score
196
Cities ranked
87%
A or B grade
6%
D or F grade
151
Health violations
76
PFAS detected
Analysis

South Carolina water quality overview

South Carolina's drinking water quality is good overall, with a state average score of 81.8 out of 100 — 7.6 points above the national average of 74.2. The median city score is 84.9, reflecting how water quality is distributed across the state's 196 ranked cities. 87% of South Carolina cities earned an A or B grade, indicating broadly strong water quality infrastructure. Only 5 cities received a failing grade. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in 76 of 196 cities (39%). Of those, 52 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels — a health concern requiring action. 2 cities have lead levels exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb, typically a sign of aging lead service lines or lead solder in older plumbing. Residents in these areas should use an NSF 53-certified filter. 151 cities have recorded health-based violations with the EPA — meaning contaminant levels exceeded safe limits or required testing was missed. Use the table below to find your city's specific record.

Grade Distribution

How South Carolina cities scored

49%
38%
A
96
49%
Excellent
B
75
38%
Good
C
13
7%
Fair
D
7
4%
Poor
F
5
3%
Failing
Score Distribution

Score distribution by range

100 50 0
3
7
4
11
28
100
43
0–9
10–19
20–29
30–39
40–49
50–59
60–69
70–79
80–89
90–100
Comparison

State vs national average

B+
South Carolina
81.8/100
B-
National avg
74.2/100
▲ 7.6 pts above national average
City Map

Water quality across South Carolina

Each dot is a city, colored by grade. Size reflects population served. Click any city to view its full report.

Highlights

Top & bottom cities in South Carolina

Best 10 cities

  1. 1 A+ Lake City 97.6 9K
  2. 2 A+ Barrineau Crossroads 97 2K
  3. 3 A+ Coward 96.9 2K
  4. 4 A+ Mullins 96.8 7K
  5. 5 A+ Walterboro 96.3 12K
  6. 6 A+ Six Mile 96.2 15K
  7. 7 A+ Lyman 96.1 87K
  8. 8 A+ Mill Spring 95 838
  9. 9 A Irmo 94.9 1K
  10. 10 A Holly Hill 94.4 2K

Worst 10 cities

  1. 187 F West Columbia 33.8 49K
  2. 188 F Lexington 36.2 75K
  3. 189 F Columbia 37.1 322K
  4. 190 F Rock Hill 41 87K
  5. 191 F York 43.4 60K
  6. 192 D Clover 45 10K
  7. 193 D Hopkins 46 3K
  8. 194 D Gaston 46.5 11K
  9. 195 D Aiken 47.8 51K
  10. 196 D Sumter 48.2 60K
Full Rankings

All 196 cities in South Carolina

# City Grade Score Score Population Violations Issues
1 Lake City
A+
 97.6
9K 7 Unresolved
2 Barrineau Crossroads
A+
 97
2K 1
3 Coward
A+
 96.9
2K 2
4 Mullins
A+
 96.8
7K 10 Health Unresolved
5 Walterboro
A+
 96.3
12K 28 Unresolved
6 Six Mile
A+
 96.2
15K 5 Health
7 Lyman
A+
 96.1
87K 4 Health
8 Mill Spring
A+
 95
838 1
9 Irmo
A
 94.9
1K 6 Health
10 Holly Hill
A
 94.4
2K 7 Unresolved
11 Varnville
A
 94.3
2K 5 Health Unresolved
12 Branchville
A
 94.3
1K 10 Unresolved
13 Seneca
A
 94.2
39K 12
14 Dillon
A
 94
25K 6 Health Unresolved
15 Lamar
A
 93.8
1K 35 Health Unresolved
16 Starr
A
 93
11K 3 Health PFAS
17 Pamplico
A
 93
2K 30 Health Unresolved
18 Monetta
A
 92.8
1K 12 Unresolved
19 Kershaw
A
 92.4
3K 17 Health Unresolved
20 Yemassee
A
 92.3
2K 15 Unresolved
21 Greer
A
 92.2
94K 16 Health Unresolved
22 Johnsonville
A
 92.2
5K 8 Health Unresolved
23 Greenville
A
 92.1
396K 19 Health Unresolved
24 Marietta
A
 92.1
3K 7 Health Unresolved
25 Cassatt
A
 92
25K 7 Health Unresolved
26 Jefferson
A
 92
948 18 Health Unresolved
27 Turbeville
A
 91.8
723 3 Unresolved
28 Hartsville
A
 91.7
9K 2 Unresolved
29 Latta
A
 91.6
2K 4 Unresolved
30 Nichols
A
 91.5
678 5 Unresolved
31 Spartanburg
A
 91.4
142K 12 Health Unresolved
32 Ridge Spring
A
 91.4
2K 9 Health Unresolved
33 Mcbee
A
 91.2
6K 15 Health Unresolved
34 Gloverville
A
 90.9
12K 8 Health Unresolved
35 West Anderson
A
 90.8
17K 6 Health Unresolved
36 Fripp Island
A
 90.8
4K 5 Health PFAS Unresolved
37 Inman
A
 90.6
37K 4 Health Unresolved
38 Prosperity
A
 90.6
1K 3 Health Unresolved
39 Marion
A
 90.5
26K 14 Health Unresolved
40 Barnwell
A
 90.3
5K 4 Unresolved
41 Sullivans Island
A
 90.3
3K 5 Health Unresolved
42 Bamberg
A
 90
4K 7 Health Unresolved
43 Ladson
A
 90
3K 9 Health Unresolved
44 Chesterfield
A-
 89.7
27K 27 Health Unresolved
45 Hampton
A-
 89.7
3K 2 Unresolved
46 Mitford
A-
 89.7
2K 30 Unresolved
47 Whitmire
A-
 89.6
2K 15 Health Unresolved
48 Pelion
A-
 89.6
1K 120 Health Unresolved
49 St. Matthews
A-
 89.5
3K 17 Unresolved
50 Bishopville
A-
 89.4
4K 15 Unresolved
51 Landrum
A-
 89.2
6K 19 Health Unresolved
52 Graniteville
A-
 89.1
18K 5 Health PFAS Unresolved
53 Williamston
A-
 89.1
7K 23 Health Unresolved
54 Sharon
A-
 89.1
573 2 Health Unresolved
55 La France
A-
 89
21K 11 Unresolved
56 Manning
A-
 88.9
10K 33 Health Unresolved
57 Kiawah Island
A-
 88.9
900 2 Unresolved
58 Clio
A-
 88.9
788 8 Health Unresolved
59 Pineridge
A-
 88.9
683 73 Health Unresolved
60 Elloree
A-
 88.8
2K 11 Unresolved
61 Brunson
A-
 88.8
649 5 Unresolved
62 Williston
A-
 88.7
3K 6 Unresolved
63 Wallace
A-
 88.5
4K 12 Health Unresolved
64 Lake View (Corporate Name For
A-
 88.5
1K 8 Health Unresolved
65 Greeleyville
A-
 88.5
850 7 Health Unresolved
66 Honea Path
A-
 88
7K 15 PFAS Unresolved
67 St. George
A-
 88
2K 10 Unresolved
68 Jamestown
A-
 88
800 9 Health Unresolved
69 Woodruff
A-
 87.7
29K 6 Health PFAS Unresolved
70 Lane
A-
 87.7
585 13 Unresolved
71 Chesnee
A-
 87.6
18K 3 Unresolved
72 Jackson
A-
 87.5
4K 32 Health Unresolved
73 Iva
A-
 87.4
2K 15 Health Unresolved
74 Neeses (Corporate Name For Nee
A-
 87.2
3K 28 Health Unresolved
75 Wedgefield
A-
 87.2
1K 28 Health Unresolved
76 Clinton
A-
 87.1
9K 18 Health PFAS Unresolved
77 Wagener
A-
 87.1
1K 9 Health Unresolved
78 Hickory Grove
A-
 86.7
654 1 Unresolved
79 Folly Beach
A-
 86.5
5K 13 PFAS Unresolved
80 Clearwater
A-
 86.5
529 18 Health Unresolved
81 Walhalla
A-
 86.3
19K 19 Health Unresolved
82 Harleyville
A-
 86.3
1K 10 Health Unresolved
83 Olanta
A-
 86.3
801 8 Unresolved
84 Perry
A-
 86.3
796 33 Health Unresolved
85 Seabrook
A-
 86
6K 8 Health PFAS Unresolved
86 Denmark
A-
 86
4K 13 Health Unresolved
87 Eutawville
A-
 85.9
555 12 Health Unresolved
88 Johns Island (Sta.)
A-
 85.8
32K 11 Health PFAS Unresolved
89 Blackville
A-
 85.8
2K 11 Unresolved
90 Orangeburg
A-
 85.7
47K 15 Health PFAS Unresolved
91 Cayce
A-
 85.7
17K 16 Health PFAS
92 Heath Springs
A-
 85.6
947 3 Unresolved
93 Bowman
A-
 85.5
1K 12 Health Unresolved
94 Fort Jackson
A-
 85.2
31K 16 Health PFAS Unresolved
95 Liberty
A-
 85.2
13K 29 Health Unresolved
96 Loris
A-
 85.1
3K 7 Unresolved
97 Camden
B+
 84.9
18K 18 Health PFAS Unresolved
98 Shaw Afb
B+
 84.9
5K 55 Health PFAS Unresolved
99 Pageland
B+
 84.9
4K 33 Health Unresolved
100 Central
B+
 84.9
3K 14 Health Unresolved
101 Ninety Six (Corporate Name For
B+
 84.8
3K 5 Health Unresolved
102 Scranton
B+
 84.6
1K 4 Unresolved
103 Pacolet
B+
 84.5
5K 4 Health PFAS Unresolved
104 Ridgeland
B+
 84.5
3K 4 Unresolved
105 Pendleton
B+
 84.4
6K 3 Unresolved
106 Blacksburg
B+
 84.4
4K 14 Health PFAS Unresolved
107 Isle Of Palms
B+
 84.3
10K 14 Health PFAS Unresolved
108 Donalds
B+
 84.3
5K 7 Health PFAS Unresolved
109 Norway
B+
 84.2
775 18 Health Unresolved
110 Florence
B+
 84.1
80K 9 Health PFAS Unresolved
111 Goose Creek
B+
 84.1
41K 6 PFAS Unresolved
112 Mount Pleasant
B+
 84
92K 5 Health PFAS Unresolved
113 Clemson
B+
 84
27K 19 Health Unresolved
114 Tega Cay
B+
 84
11K 8 Unresolved
115 Okatie
B+
 83.8
146K 19 Health PFAS Unresolved
116 North Augusta
B+
 83.8
62K 38 Health Unresolved
117 Darlington
B+
 83.8
59K 20 Health Unresolved
118 Beech Island
B+
 83.8
9K 4 Unresolved
119 Hemingway
B+
 83.8
3K 16 Health Unresolved
120 Fort Lawn
B+
 83.5
16K 21 Health PFAS Unresolved
121 Lancaster
B+
 83.4
93K 47 Health Unresolved
122 Ridgeville
B+
 83.1
4K 32 Health Unresolved
123 Easley
B+
 83
78K 37 Health Unresolved
124 Charleston
B+
 82.8
327K 16 Health PFAS Unresolved
125 Lincolnville
B+
 82.8
2K 33 Unresolved
126 Maysville
B+
 82.5
665 3 Health Unresolved
127 New Ellenton
B+
 82.3
9K 38 Health Unresolved
128 Allendale
B+
 82.3
7K 32 Health Unresolved
129 Lugoff
B+
 82.2
23K 34 Health PFAS Unresolved
130 Helena
B+
 82
1K 13 Health Unresolved
131 North Myrtle Beach
B+
 81.8
41K 16 Health PFAS Unresolved
132 Summerton
B+
 81.8
3K 33 Health Unresolved
133 Awendaw
B+
 81.6
746 19 Health Unresolved
134 Pickens
B+
 81.5
25K 53 Health Unresolved
135 Eastover
B+
 81.3
726 82 Health Unresolved
136 Ehrhardt
B+
 81.3
507 12 Health Unresolved
137 North
B+
 80.7
4K 21 Health Unresolved
138 Mccoll
B+
 80.3
2K 17 Health Unresolved
139 Springfield
B+
 80.3
700 4 Unresolved
140 Union
B+
 80.2
22K 36 Health PFAS Unresolved
141 Ware Shoals
B+
 80.2
3K 2 PFAS Unresolved
142 Mill Spring
B+
 80.2
937 4 Unresolved
143 Bath
B+
 80.1
2K 30 Health Unresolved
144 Jonesville
B
 79.6
4K 19 Health Unresolved
145 Bethune
B
 79.6
4K 20 Health Unresolved
146 Belton
B
 79.5
42K 42 Health PFAS Unresolved
147 Gilbert
B
 79.3
8K 69 Health Unresolved
148 Estill
B
 79.1
2K 12 Health Unresolved
149 Andrews
B
 79
3K 20 Health Unresolved
150 Fairfax
B
 78.1
2K 18 Health Unresolved
151 Ridgeway
B
 77.9
1K 36 Health Unresolved
152 Lockhart
B
 77.7
560 20 Health Unresolved
153 Georgetown
B
 77.3
17K 40 Health PFAS Unresolved
154 Langley
B
 77.2
753 9 Health Unresolved
155 Abbeville
B
 77.1
6K 18 Health PFAS Unresolved
156 Bennettsville
B
 76.3
14K 77 Health Unresolved
157 North Charleston
B
 76.2
26K 18 PFAS Unresolved
158 Swansea
B
 76.2
2K 23 Health Unresolved
159 Kingstree
B
 76
13K 29 Health Unresolved
160 Carlisle
B
 75.3
4K 26 Health Unresolved
161 Myrtle Beach
B-
 74.5
66K 54 Health PFAS Unresolved
162 Fort Mill
B-
 74.3
29K 92 Health Unresolved
163 Calhoun Falls
B-
 73.9
2K 28 Health Unresolved
164 Pawleys Island
B-
 73.1
50K 54 Health PFAS Unresolved
165 Dalzell
B-
 73
16K 28 Health Unresolved
166 Batesburg
B-
 73
7K 32 Health PFAS Unresolved
167 Moncks Corner
B-
 72.9
118K 43 Health PFAS Unresolved
168 Santee
B-
 71.3
2K 8 Health Lead Unresolved
169 Hilton Head Island
B-
 71.1
50K 43 Health PFAS Unresolved
170 Gaffney
B-
 71.1
1K 8 Health PFAS Unresolved
171 Laurens
B-
 70.8
50K 48 Health PFAS Unresolved
172 Winnsboro
C+
 68.7
15K 28 Health PFAS Unresolved
173 Summerville
C+
 68.2
124K 95 Health PFAS Unresolved
174 Mccormick
C+
 67.8
10K 41 Health PFAS Unresolved
175 Salem
C+
 67.7
11K 120 Health Unresolved
176 Jenkinsville
C+
 67.6
3K 33 Health Unresolved
177 Conway
C+
 67.5
304K 34 Health PFAS Unresolved
178 Anderson
C+
 66.8
59K 297 Health Unresolved
179 Gaffney
C+
 65.2
46K 37 Health PFAS Unresolved
180 Edisto Beach
C
 64.3
6K 37 Health Lead Unresolved
181 Greenwood
C
 64
50K 52 Health PFAS Unresolved
182 Newberry
C
 60.8
20K 75 Health PFAS Unresolved
183 Cheraw
C-
 57.1
6K 40 Health PFAS Unresolved
184 Westminster
C-
 55.5
29K 157 Health Unresolved
185 Saluda
D+
 54.5
8K 48 Health PFAS Unresolved
186 Chapin
D+
 54.4
5K 149 Health PFAS Unresolved
187 Sumter
D
 48.2
60K 307 Health Unresolved
188 Aiken
D
 47.8
51K 101 Health Unresolved
189 Gaston
D
 46.5
11K 200 Health Unresolved
190 Hopkins
D
 46
3K 441 Health Unresolved
191 Clover
D
 45
10K 470 Health Unresolved
192 York
F
 43.4
60K 442 Health Unresolved
193 Rock Hill
F
 41
87K 866 Health Unresolved
194 Columbia
F
 37.1
322K 915 Health PFAS Unresolved
195 Lexington
F
 36.2
75K 576 Health PFAS Unresolved
196 West Columbia
F
 33.8
49K 272 Health PFAS Unresolved
← View national best rankings Explore South Carolina water data →