Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Columbia, SC tap water
30 contaminants were measured in the Columbia, SC water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 3 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 30
- Over federal limit
- 3
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- Chlorite
- Service area
- SC
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
2 PFAS compounds above EPA limits in Columbia, SC
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (2.1×)below national p90 (19.900000000000006 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.7×)near national p90 (13.649999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
HFPO-DA (GenX chemicals)
● Approaching limit (92%)below national p90 (93.88 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (13.909999999999979 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (12.190000000000003 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHpA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (9.309999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Columbia, SC's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 2 sources.
Source
- LAKE MURRAY
- BROAD RIVER CANAL
Treatment
- CANAL WTP (A40010)
- LAKE MURRAY WTP (A40011)
Distribution
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
1 contaminant historically over EPA limits in Columbia, SC
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
HAA5 worst: 2016 | 0.0686 mg/L 1.1× | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
TTHM worst: 2012 | 0.0647 mg/L 81% | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2012 | 0.67 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BARIUM worst: 2019 | 0.24 mg/L within above national p90 | 2 mg/L | '19 |
NITRATE worst: 2016 | 0.47 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
COPPER worst: 2014 | 0.089 mg/L below national p90 | — | '14'17 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0231 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
LEAD worst: 2014 | 0.007 mg/L | — | '14'17 |
DBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0145 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0116 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MCAA worst: 2015 | 0.00279 mg/L | — | '15'18 |
TCAA worst: 2012 | 0.00819 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0164 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2012 | 0.0183 mg/L | — | '12'13'15 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.0244 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0282 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | 1.32Reported levelSystem-wide | 1MCL | At or above the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 0.01–4.3RangeSystem-wide | 4MCL | At or above the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0–2.6RangeSystem-wide | 5MCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 92 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 300 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 14.6 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 50 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0–3.6RangeSystem-wide | 50MCL | Within the limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 12.6 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 1.9 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 8.1 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.735Reported levelSystem-wide | 5MCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 5.36Reported levelSystem-wide | 50MCL | Within the limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 0.872Reported levelSystem-wide | 15MCL | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ColorA measure of visible tint in the water. | 0RangeSystem-wide | 15MCL | None detected |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 26 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 36 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 8AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 2024Reported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Columbia, SC's water
+Is Columbia, SC tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Columbia, SC water utility lists 3 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Chlorite, HAA5, and Chloramine. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Columbia, SC tap water?
30 contaminants were measured in Columbia, SC's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and physical & aggregate. 17 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Columbia, SC tap water?
3 contaminants in Columbia, SC's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Chlorite (1.3× the limit); HAA5 (1.1× the limit); Chloramine (1.1× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Columbia, SC tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Chlorite, at 1.3× the federal threshold. It belongs to the disinfection byproducts family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Columbia, SC tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: TTHM. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Columbia, SC's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Columbia, SC's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.