Columbia, SC Water Quality Report

Is Columbia tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Columbia, South Carolina. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Columbia, SC tap water safe to drink? Columbia, SC tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 5.28 ppt across 6 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Columbia, SC water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Columbia water: HFPO-DA (9.2 ppt), PFOS (8.3 ppt), PFOA (6.1 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Columbia, SC? Match the filter to what's in South Carolina water: reverse osmosis handles PFAS, lead, and arsenic together (90%+ removal); pitchers certified to NSF-53 for PFAS like ZeroWater or PUR PLUS cover taps you drink from. A standard Brita pitcher will not remove PFAS.

Columbia, SC Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Columbia, SC drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 9.2 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 5.28 ppt across 6 detected compounds. These levels come from individual EPA UCMR 5 water samples (2023-2025). The EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS is enforced on a running annual average, so a sample above it shows real exposure but is not by itself a violation.

Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.

Top Detected Compounds

  • HFPO-DA: 9.2 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFOS: 8.3 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFOA: 6.1 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFPeA: 5.7 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHxA: 5.4 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)

Lead in Columbia, SC Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 12 lead samples for Columbia water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.013 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

EPA Violations in Columbia, SC

Columbia public water systems have 5 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, Revised Total Coliform Rule, Chlorite, Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national PFAS survey of US drinking water, covering about 10,000 public water systems. Population of Columbia, SC: approximately 133,273.

ZIP Codes Served

29201, 29202, 29203, 29204, 29205

Compare Columbia, SC to Other Cities

Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.

What Columbia, South Carolina Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. If anyone in your household is pregnant or under 5, prioritize a certified PFAS filter now and consider a home test kit
  3. For long-term protection, an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system removes 94-99% of PFAS
  4. Read the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) your South Carolina utility publishes each year