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South Carolina Water Quality Report

195 cities tested · Average grade: B+ · 4.4M people served

Cities Tested
195
Avg Score
81.8
Population Served
4.4M
Avg Grade
B+
Live Water Alerts for South Carolina →
Latest News

Latest water news in South Carolina

Recent reporting on South Carolina drinking water — boil-water advisories, regulatory action, and infrastructure events.

Jul 17, 2026

Extreme Drought Grips South Carolina's Pee Dee Basin as Loris Doubles Water Rates

Loris, SC activated mandatory drought rules July 1, doubling rates above 6,000 gallons as extreme drought spread across the Pee Dee River Basin.

Read full story →
Jul 12, 2026

Mid-July 2026 Boil-Water Roundup: East Point, West Columbia, and Anson County

Mid-July boil-water advisories: a sinkhole main break in East Point GA, four advisories in West Columbia SC, a 24-hour outage in Anson County NC.

Read full story →
May 15, 2026

Charlotte's Stage 2 Water Restrictions Take Effect Today — First Mandatory Cuts Since 2009

Charlotte Water's Stage 2 mandatory restrictions take effect today, May 15 — first since 2009. Cascade extends across the Catawba-Wateree basin.

Read full story →
Analysis

South Carolina water quality overview

South Carolina's drinking water quality is good overall, with an average score of 81.8 out of 100 across 195 cities tested. The median score is 84.9, serving a total population of 4,441,082 residents. 87% of cities earned an A or B grade, indicating broadly strong water quality infrastructure across the state. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in 75 of 195 cities tested (38%). 51 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. 2 cities have lead levels exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb, often indicating aging infrastructure with lead service lines or lead solder. The state relies on a mix of water sources: 84 cities use groundwater while 111 draw from surface water such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Key Concerns

Issues to watch in South Carolina

75 cities
PFAS Detected
38% of tested cities have PFAS in their water supply.
2 cities
Lead Exceedances
Lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 ppb (90th percentile).
151 cities
Health Violations
9,019 total violations recorded, 186 with unresolved issues.
5 cities
Failing Systems
Received a grade of F, indicating serious water quality issues.
Contaminant Data

Explore contaminants in South Carolina

Lead in South Carolina → Ranked by 90th percentile level (ppb) PFAS in South Carolina → Ranked by compounds detected Copper in South Carolina → Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)

More contaminants tested in South Carolina

HAA5 → Chromium-6 → Arsenic → Nitrate → Strontium → 1,4-Dioxane → Manganese → Vanadium → Chlorate → Molybdenum → Cobalt → Lithium → NDMA → Perchlorate →
State context
28
Superfund sites in South Carolina
EPA National Priorities List
91.7%
of South Carolina residents on fluoridated water
CDC, 2020
2,780,232
lbs released to surface water
Top 10 TRI facilities, 2023
1.0%
of South Carolina domestic wells exceed EPA arsenic limit
USGS, 104 samples · 10 µg/L MCL
Domestic well chemistry

Private-well water in South Carolina

Based on USGS Powell Domestic-Well Database — 411 private wells sampled across South Carolina. These wells are not regulated by the EPA; if you draw your tap from a private well, the public-system grade above does not apply to you.

0.2 µg/L
Median arsenic in domestic wells
P90 1.1 µg/L · max 12.0 µg/L
14 µg/L
Median manganese in domestic wells
1.5% exceed 300 µg/L aesthetic limit
Industrial pollution

Top industrial water polluters in South Carolina

Industrial polluters nearby

The 10 facilities reporting the most pounds released to surface water in South Carolina, 2023.

Total reported releases to surface water: 2,780,232 lbs

FacilityTop chemicalTo surface water (lbs/yr)
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CO LLC
Chemicals · WEC US HOLDINGS INC
HOPKINS, SC29061
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)498,138
INV CAMDEN PLANT
Chemicals · KOCH INC
LUGOFF, SC29078
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)457,670
NEW-INDY CATAWBA LLC
Paper · NEW-INDY CONTAINERBOARD LLC
CATAWBA, SC29704
Methanol430,798
MILLIKEN CHEMICAL ALLEN PLANT
Chemicals · MILLIKEN & CO
BLACKSBURG, SC29702
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)414,703
INTERNATIONAL PAPER GEORGETOWN MILL
Paper · INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO
GEORGETOWN, SC29440
Methanol350,955

+ 5 more facilities

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Test your own tap

Get your South Carolina water tested

City-level data shows the source and infrastructure picture — but lead and other home-plumbing issues only show up at your tap. Find a state-certified lab, see what to test for, and what it costs.
Grade Distribution

How South Carolina cities scored

A: 96 B: 74 C: 13 D: 7 F: 5

Best Cities

  1. A+ Lake City 97.6
  2. A+ Barrineau Crossroads 97
  3. A+ Coward 96.9

Worst Cities

  1. F West Columbia 33.8
  2. F Lexington 36.2
  3. F Columbia 37.1
City Map

Water quality across South Carolina

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

All Cities

195 cities in South Carolina

Full rankings →
# City Grade Score Population Violations
1 Lake City A+
97.6
9K 7
2 Barrineau Crossroads A+
97
2K 1
3 Coward A+
96.9
2K 2
4 Mullins A+
96.8
7K 10
5 Walterboro A+
96.3
12K 28
6 Six Mile A+
96.2
15K 5
7 Lyman A+
96.1
87K 4
8 Mill Spring A+
95
838 1
9 Irmo A
94.9
799 6
10 Holly Hill A
94.4
2K 7
11 Varnville A
94.3
2K 5
12 Branchville A
94.3
1K 10
13 Seneca A
94.2
39K 12
14 Dillon A
94
25K 6
15 Lamar A
93.8
1K 35
16 Starr A
93
11K 3
17 Pamplico A
93
2K 30
18 Monetta A
92.8
1K 12
19 Kershaw A
92.4
3K 17
20 Yemassee A
92.3
2K 15
21 Greer A
92.2
94K 16
22 Johnsonville A
92.2
5K 8
23 Greenville A
92.1
396K 19
24 Marietta A
92.1
3K 7
25 Cassatt A
92
25K 7
26 Jefferson A
92
948 18
27 Turbeville A
91.8
723 3
28 Hartsville A
91.7
9K 2
29 Latta A
91.6
2K 4
30 Nichols A
91.5
678 5
31 Spartanburg A
91.4
142K 12
32 Ridge Spring A
91.4
2K 9
33 Mcbee A
91.2
6K 15
34 Gloverville A
90.9
12K 8
35 West Anderson A
90.8
17K 6
36 Fripp Island A
90.8
4K 5
37 Inman A
90.6
37K 4
38 Prosperity A
90.6
1K 3
39 Marion A
90.5
17K 14
40 Barnwell A
90.3
5K 4
41 Sullivans Island A
90.3
3K 5
42 Bamberg A
90
4K 7
43 Ladson A
90
1K 9
44 Chesterfield A-
89.7
27K 27
45 Hampton A-
89.7
3K 2
46 Mitford A-
89.7
2K 30
47 Whitmire A-
89.6
2K 15
48 Pelion A-
89.6
1K 120
49 St. Matthews A-
89.5
3K 17
50 Bishopville A-
89.4
4K 15
51 Landrum A-
89.2
4K 19
52 Graniteville A-
89.1
18K 5
53 Williamston A-
89.1
7K 23
54 Sharon A-
89.1
573 2
55 La France A-
89
17K 11
56 Manning A-
88.9
10K 33
57 Kiawah Island A-
88.9
900 2
58 Clio A-
88.9
788 8
59 Pineridge A-
88.9
683 73
60 Elloree A-
88.8
1K 11
61 Brunson A-
88.8
649 5
62 Williston A-
88.7
3K 6
63 Wallace A-
88.5
4K 12
64 Lake View (Corporate Name For A-
88.5
1K 8
65 Greeleyville A-
88.5
850 7
66 Honea Path A-
88
7K 15
67 St. George A-
88
2K 10
68 Jamestown A-
88
800 9
69 Woodruff A-
87.7
29K 6
70 Lane A-
87.7
585 13
71 Chesnee A-
87.6
18K 3
72 Jackson A-
87.5
4K 32
73 Iva A-
87.4
2K 15
74 Neeses (Corporate Name For Nee A-
87.2
3K 28
75 Wedgefield A-
87.2
1K 28
76 Clinton A-
87.1
9K 18
77 Wagener A-
87.1
1K 9
78 Hickory Grove A-
86.7
654 1
79 Folly Beach A-
86.5
5K 13
80 Clearwater A-
86.5
529 18
81 Walhalla A-
86.3
19K 19
82 Harleyville A-
86.3
946 10
83 Olanta A-
86.3
801 8
84 Perry A-
86.3
796 33
85 Seabrook A-
86
6K 8
86 Denmark A-
86
4K 13
87 Eutawville A-
85.9
555 12
88 Johns Island (Sta.) A-
85.8
23K 11
89 Blackville A-
85.8
2K 11
90 Orangeburg A-
85.7
47K 15
91 Cayce A-
85.7
17K 16
92 Heath Springs A-
85.6
947 3
93 Bowman A-
85.5
1K 12
94 Fort Jackson A-
85.2
31K 16
95 Liberty A-
85.2
13K 29
96 Loris A-
85.1
3K 7
97 Camden B+
84.9
18K 18
98 Shaw Afb B+
84.9
5K 55
99 Pageland B+
84.9
4K 33
100 Central B+
84.9
3K 14
101 Ninety Six (Corporate Name For B+
84.8
3K 5
102 Scranton B+
84.6
1K 4
103 Pacolet B+
84.5
5K 4
104 Ridgeland B+
84.5
3K 4
105 Pendleton B+
84.4
6K 3
106 Blacksburg B+
84.4
4K 14
107 Isle Of Palms B+
84.3
10K 14
108 Donalds B+
84.3
5K 7
109 Norway B+
84.2
775 18
110 Florence B+
84.1
80K 9
111 Goose Creek B+
84.1
41K 6
112 Mount Pleasant B+
84
92K 5
113 Clemson B+
84
26K 19
114 Tega Cay B+
84
11K 8
115 Okatie B+
83.8
146K 19
116 Darlington B+
83.8
59K 20
117 North Augusta B+
83.8
33K 38
118 Beech Island B+
83.8
9K 4
119 Hemingway B+
83.8
3K 16
120 Fort Lawn B+
83.5
16K 21
121 Lancaster B+
83.4
93K 47
122 Ridgeville B+
83.1
710 32
123 Easley B+
83
36K 37
124 Charleston B+
82.8
327K 16
125 Lincolnville B+
82.8
2K 33
126 Maysville B+
82.5
665 3
127 New Ellenton B+
82.3
9K 38
128 Allendale B+
82.3
7K 32
129 Lugoff B+
82.2
23K 34
130 Helena B+
82
1K 13
131 North Myrtle Beach B+
81.8
41K 16
132 Summerton B+
81.8
3K 33
133 Awendaw B+
81.6
746 19
134 Pickens B+
81.5
25K 53
135 Eastover B+
81.3
700 82
136 Ehrhardt B+
81.3
507 12
137 North B+
80.7
1K 21
138 Mccoll B+
80.3
2K 17
139 Springfield B+
80.3
700 4
140 Union B+
80.2
22K 36
141 Ware Shoals B+
80.2
3K 2
142 Mill Spring B+
80.2
838 4
143 Bath B+
80.1
2K 30
144 Jonesville B
79.6
4K 19
145 Bethune B
79.6
4K 20
146 Belton B
79.5
42K 42
147 Gilbert B
79.3
8K 69
148 Estill B
79.1
2K 12
149 Andrews B
79
3K 20
150 Fairfax B
78.1
2K 18
151 Ridgeway B
77.9
1K 36
152 Lockhart B
77.7
560 20
153 Georgetown B
77.3
17K 40
154 Langley B
77.2
753 9
155 Abbeville B
77.1
6K 18
156 Bennettsville B
76.3
14K 77
157 Swansea B
76.2
2K 23
158 Kingstree B
76
13K 29
159 Carlisle B
75.3
4K 26
160 Myrtle Beach B-
74.5
66K 54
161 Fort Mill B-
74.3
28K 92
162 Calhoun Falls B-
73.9
2K 28
163 Pawleys Island B-
73.1
50K 54
164 Dalzell B-
73
13K 28
165 Batesburg B-
73
6K 32
166 Moncks Corner B-
72.9
117K 43
167 Santee B-
71.3
2K 8
168 Hilton Head Island B-
71.1
50K 43
169 Gaffney B-
71.1
1K 8
170 Laurens B-
70.8
50K 48
171 Winnsboro C+
68.7
15K 28
172 Summerville C+
68.2
124K 95
173 Mccormick C+
67.8
10K 41
174 Salem C+
67.7
11K 120
175 Jenkinsville C+
67.6
3K 33
176 Conway C+
67.5
304K 34
177 Anderson C+
66.8
55K 297
178 Gaffney C+
65.2
40K 37
179 Edisto Beach C
64.3
6K 37
180 Greenwood C
64
50K 52
181 Newberry C
60.8
10K 75
182 Cheraw C-
57.1
6K 40
183 Westminster C-
55.5
26K 157
184 Saluda D+
54.5
3K 48
185 Chapin D+
54.4
4K 149
186 Sumter D
48.2
58K 307
187 Aiken D
47.8
51K 101
188 Gaston D
46.5
11K 200
189 Hopkins D
46
2K 441
190 Clover D
45
9K 470
191 York F
43.4
57K 442
192 Rock Hill F
41
84K 866
193 Columbia F
37.1
321K 915
194 Lexington F
36.2
74K 576
195 West Columbia F
33.8
34K 272
Counties

Browse South Carolina counties

Abbeville 3 cities · avg 78.4 Aiken 13 cities · avg 82.7 Allendale 2 cities · avg 80.2 Anderson 9 cities · avg 85.3 Bamberg 3 cities · avg 85.8 Barnwell 3 cities · avg 88.3 Beaufort 5 cities · avg 83.3 Berkeley 3 cities · avg 81.7 Calhoun 1 city · avg 89.5 Charleston 9 cities · avg 84.9 Cherokee 3 cities · avg 78 Chester 1 city · avg 83.5 Chesterfield 5 cities · avg 83 Clarendon 4 cities · avg 89.9 Cleveland 1 city · avg 71.1 Colleton 2 cities · avg 80.3 Darlington 3 cities · avg 89.8 Dillon 3 cities · avg 91.4 Dorchester 5 cities · avg 83.1 Fairfield 4 cities · avg 76 Florence 7 cities · avg 90.7 Georgetown 3 cities · avg 76.5 Greenville 3 cities · avg 92.1 Greenwood 3 cities · avg 76.3 Hampton 5 cities · avg 88.8 Horry 4 cities · avg 77.2 Jasper 1 city · avg 84.5 Kershaw 4 cities · avg 84.7 Lancaster 3 cities · avg 87.1 Laurens 2 cities · avg 78.9 Lee 1 city · avg 89.4 Lexington 10 cities · avg 66.4 Marion 3 cities · avg 92.9 Marlboro 4 cities · avg 83.5 Mccormick 1 city · avg 67.8 Newberry 3 cities · avg 80.3 Oconee 4 cities · avg 75.9 Orangeburg 11 cities · avg 85.3 Pickens 6 cities · avg 85.8 Polk 2 cities · avg 87.6 Richland 5 cities · avg 68.9 Saluda 2 cities · avg 73 Spartanburg 6 cities · avg 90.4 Sumter 5 cities · avg 75.2 Union 4 cities · avg 78.2 Williamsburg 4 cities · avg 84 York 7 cities · avg 66.2
ZIP Codes

Browse South Carolina by ZIP code

Look up water quality by ZIP code to find the systems serving your area.

View all South Carolina ZIP codes →
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about South Carolina's water

Is South Carolina's tap water safe to drink?

South Carolina's water quality varies by city. The statewide average grade is B+ (81.8/100). 87% of cities scored an A or B, while 6% received a D or F. Check your specific city for detailed results.

Which South Carolina cities have the best water quality?

The top-rated cities are Lake City (A+), Barrineau Crossroads (A+), Coward (A+). These cities scored highest based on violation history, lead levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Which South Carolina cities have the worst water quality?

The lowest-rated cities are West Columbia (F), Lexington (F), Columbia (F). We recommend residents in these areas consider water filtration and review their city's specific contaminant data.

How many South Carolina cities have PFAS in their water?

75 out of 195 cities tested positive for PFAS "forever chemicals" (38%). 51 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. Reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters can help reduce PFAS exposure.

Do any South Carolina cities have dangerous lead levels?

2 cities exceed the EPA lead action level of 15 ppb. Lead contamination typically comes from aging pipes and lead service lines rather than the water source itself. An NSF 53-certified filter can effectively remove lead from tap water.

Water quality resources

Guide
How to Read Your Water Quality Report
Read guide →
Guide
Lead in Drinking Water
Read guide →
Guide
PFAS Forever Chemicals Explained
Read guide →
News
Latest Water Quality News
View all →
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