EPA data as of Oct 2026 · page updated 2026-10-29

Charleston Water System (Sc1010001)

Charleston Water System (Sc1010001) (EPA ID SC1010001) in Charleston, SC supplies surface water (rivers, lakes) to about 278,771 people: 2 violations since 2016, latest lead result 3.5 ppb, PFAS 6.5 ppt.

Service area

EPA service-area boundary (state-supplied or EPA-modeled)
Water utility service area PFOA/PFOS ≥ 4 ppt Lead > 15 ppb 5+ violations Superfund site (active) proposed cleaned up Circles: other water systems flagged nearby; size = people served. Tap any symbol for details.

System facts

People served278,771
Connections126,756
Sourcesurface water (rivers, lakes)
WholesalerNo

Health-based violations

Contaminant or ruleHealth-based violations since 2016
Lead and Copper Rule2

A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its legal limit (MCL) or a required treatment technique was not met, as reported by the state to EPA’s SDWIS. All are listed as resolved or archived; the latest began Jul 2025.

Lead

Jan 20223.5 ppb
Jan 20192.1 ppb
Jan 20162.3 ppb
Jan 20131.3 ppb
Jan 20102.3 ppb
Jan 20074.5 ppb
Jan 20043 ppb
Jan 20034 ppb

90th-percentile lead per sampling round (90% of the homes sampled were at or below this level). Black line: EPA’s 15 ppb action level; under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements the action level becomes 10 ppb from 2027.

PFAS

CompoundHighest resultSamples with detectionEPA limit
PFOS6.5 ppt4 of 44 ppt MCL
PFPeA5 ppt4 of 4—
PFOA4.7 ppt4 of 44 ppt MCL
PFHxA4.6 ppt4 of 4—
PFBS4.3 ppt4 of 4—
PFNAnot detected0 of 4—
PFBAnot detected0 of 4—
PFHxSnot detected0 of 4—
PFDAnot detected0 of 4—
HFPO-DA (GenX)not detected0 of 4—
PFHpAnot detected0 of 4—

EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5), samples 2023–2025; ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). The 4.0 ppt maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS were set by EPA in 2024; water systems have until the end of the decade to comply.

ZIP codes served

ZIP codes whose center lies in this system’s service area or that the state lists for it.

What this is — and isn’t. These are records your water utility and state reported to the EPA, and the EPA’s radon map for your county. They describe the system and the area, not the water from your own tap or the air in your home. For that, read your utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report and test: lead and radon tests are inexpensive.

Questions

Has Charleston Water System (Sc1010001) had drinking water violations?

Health-based violations since 2016: Lead and Copper Rule. All are listed as resolved.

What is the lead level in Charleston Water System (Sc1010001) water?

The latest 90th-percentile lead result (Jan 2022) was 3.5 ppb. EPA’s action level is 15 ppb (10 ppb from 2027).

Does Charleston Water System (Sc1010001) have PFAS in its water?

Highest PFOA or PFOS result in EPA’s 2023–2025 testing was at or above 4.0 ppt, EPA’s 2024 maximum contaminant level for each. 5 PFAS compounds detected.