Free South Carolina water report: PFAS & lead levels for every water system, worst-affected cities, and EPA violations. Check your ZIP.
South Carolina's 5.4 million residents draw drinking water from a mix of surface rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater aquifers that vary dramatically across the state's geography. The Upstate relies on mountain-fed rivers and reservoirs; the Midlands draws from the Congaree and Broad rivers; and the Lowcountry depends heavily on groundwater from the Floridan and other coastal aquifers. Charleston, the state's most prominent coastal city, sits atop a complex groundwater system shaped by centuries of development, while rapidly growing areas along the Grand Strand and in the Greenville-Spartanburg corridor are stretching existing water infrastructure. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) oversees water quality regulation statewide.
South Carolina has a significant military presence, and PFAS contamination has followed. Shaw Air Force Base near Sumter has been a focal point – AFFF use during fire training exercises over decades has contaminated groundwater on and near the installation. The Department of Defense has conducted preliminary assessments and is working on remediation, but nearby communities relying on groundwater wells face ongoing exposure risk.
Charleston's naval history adds another layer. The former Charleston Naval Shipyard and Naval Weapons Station, both part of the broader Joint Base Charleston complex, operated for decades before significant environmental regulation existed. PFAS from firefighting operations at these facilities has been detected in surrounding monitoring wells. The former Naval Hospital site and other parcels transferred to civilian use carry contamination legacies that are still being characterized.
Beyond military sources, South Carolina's industrial sector – particularly textile manufacturing in the Upstate and chemical production along the coast – has contributed to the state's contamination profile. The EPA's UCMR5 data shows PFAS detections across water systems statewide, with the highest concentrations near military installations.
Among southeastern states, South Carolina falls in the middle tier for PFAS contamination. North Carolina, with its Chemours GenX discharge into the Cape Fear River, has drawn far more national attention. Georgia's military installations present similar contamination patterns. South Carolina's situation is less concentrated but geographically widespread – military bases, industrial sites, and biosolids application on agricultural land create multiple exposure pathways across the state.
The Lowcountry's groundwater dependency is a particular vulnerability. Unlike surface water systems that can be treated and blended more easily, groundwater contamination is slow to remediate and can persist for decades. Communities on the coast that rely on shallow aquifers near former military or industrial sites face long timelines for cleanup.
South Carolina has not yet adopted state-specific PFAS MCLs, relying on federal EPA standards for enforcement. SCDHEC has been expanding monitoring and has issued health advisories for specific sites, but the regulatory framework remains less aggressive than states like North Carolina, Massachusetts, or Michigan.
Water quality in South Carolina depends heavily on whether you are on a municipal system or a private well, and on your proximity to known contamination sources.
1. Check your water quality using our free tool. We map monitoring data to your specific location, which matters in a state where neighboring ZIP codes can have very different water sources. 2. If you live near Shaw AFB, Joint Base Charleston, or any of the state's former military installations, consider PFAS-specific testing for your water. Our water filter guide covers reverse osmosis and activated carbon systems that are certified for PFAS reduction. 3. Lowcountry residents on private wells should be especially proactive about testing – groundwater in coastal areas can carry not only PFAS but also naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic and radium. A detailed water report can show you what has been measured in your area over time.
South Carolina's water infrastructure reflects its split geography. The Upstate, anchored by Greenville and Spartanburg, benefits from relatively clean mountain source water from the Blue Ridge escarpment. The Midlands, centered on Columbia, draws from the Congaree River system – a major waterway that carries agricultural and urban runoff from a large watershed. The Lowcountry's groundwater systems were developed during an era when contamination science was in its infancy.
Charleston's naval presence dates to the Revolutionary War, but the modern environmental legacy begins with World War II and the massive expansion of military operations along the coast. The Charleston Naval Shipyard operated from 1901 to 1996, and the Naval Weapons Station continues as part of Joint Base Charleston. Decades of industrial military operations – including ship repair, weapons testing, and fire training – left contamination that is still being mapped and remediated.
Shaw Air Force Base, home to the 20th Fighter Wing, has been operational since 1941. The base's fire training areas used AFFF extensively, and the resulting PFAS plume has migrated into surrounding groundwater. The DoD's investigation at Shaw is ongoing, with affected residents monitoring progress closely.
The state has also grappled with the consequences of biosolids – treated sewage sludge applied to agricultural land as fertilizer. PFAS in biosolids can leach into groundwater, and South Carolina's agricultural regions have seen growing concern about this pathway. SCDHEC issued guidance in 2024 addressing biosolids-related PFAS but has not yet banned the practice.
Rapid population growth, particularly along the coast and in the Charlotte metro spillover areas, is straining water infrastructure and increasing demand on aquifers that are already under pressure. Sea level rise adds another variable for coastal groundwater systems, as saltwater intrusion can compromise freshwater aquifers.
Check your address to see the latest data for your part of South Carolina. In a state growing this fast, staying informed about your water quality is worth the two minutes it takes.