Charleston Tap Water Quality Report
Charleston's water has 4 contaminants above EPA MCLGs. We recommend using a certified water filter.
Other systems listed for Charleston with results above guidelines: BCWSA SANGAREE W/D (0820002) (4 above guidelines), ST JOHN'S WATER (SC1020002) (4 above guidelines)
Water system
CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001)
2 other systems are listed for Charleston. See their figures
People Served
242,397
Health-based violations since 2020
0
CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001). EPA SDWA violation data as of Q2 2026 (downloaded 2026-07-09).
Latest sample on file
Sep 2025 · CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001)
Utilities publish newer results in their annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report).
Is Charleston Tap Water Safe to Drink?
We strongly recommend using a certified water filter to reduce exposure: Charleston's water has 4 contaminants above EPA health-based guidelines. Check our filter recommendations below for NSF-certified options that can remove the specific contaminants found in Charleston's water.
CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001), Charleston's water system, serves 242,397 people. 2 other systems are listed for Charleston. Each system's results are listed under its own name, never added to CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001)'s. Water quality testing is conducted regularly and reported to the EPA. The latest sample on file for CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001) is from Sep 2025.
Boil water advisories are issued by water systems and state agencies, and they change from day to day. Boil water advisories in South Carolina
Charleston Water Service Areas
What these numbers actually mean for Charleston, SC
We read Charleston, SC’s published record and send you a short report — which findings warrant a decision, which to ignore, and what to do about it. Including when the answer is nothing.
- 4 contaminants above EPA MCLGs and 4 contaminants with an EPA health goal detected in some samples (no level on file)
- 156 results on file
- 23 PFAS compounds on record
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Recommended Water Filters for Charleston
Based on Charleston's water quality data, these NSF-certified filters are recommended to remove contaminants above EPA MCLGs.
Culligan
ZeroWater
NSF Certified:
Flow Rate
1.9 gpm
Daily Production
1 gpd
Highlights:
- Compact design
- Easy to set up
- Affordable
- NSF-42, NSF-53, NSF-401 certified
Removes 19 contaminants:
+14 more
Strontium, Molybdenum, Fluoride, Uranium, Lead, Total PFAS, Chlorine, 25, Phosphorus, Bicarbonate, Calcium, Carbonate, Magnesium, Sodium
Santevia
Bath Filter
NSF Certified:
Flow Rate
0.36 gpm
Highlights:
- Organic cotton design reduces plastic used in construction
- Affordable upfront & ongoing cost
- The only bath filter that removed 100% chlorine with “normal” faster faucet flow
Removes 1 contaminants:
Waterdrop
A1
NSF Certified:
Flow Rate
1 gpm
Highlights:
- Performance certified
- Lower price than Philips
- Hot water dispensing
- Compact design
Removes 5 contaminants:
Whirlpool Corporation
W11256135
NSF Certified:
Capacity
1001 gal
Filter Life
3 mo
Flow Rate
0.7 gpm
Removes 19 contaminants:
+14 more
Benzene, Carbofuran, Chlorine (Free), Chlorine (Total), Chlorine Dioxide, Chlorobenzene, Cryptosporidium, Ethylbenzene, Lead, Mercury, Metolachlor, Tetrachloroethylene, Toxaphene, Turbidity
Verify Your Water Quality with Independent Testing
With 4 contaminants above EPA MCLGs and 4 contaminants with an EPA health goal detected in some samples (no level on file), independent laboratory testing provides a second opinion and can track changes over time.
SimpleLab
Advanced Home Water Test
$269
Comprehensive water analysis testing over 200 contaminants including bacteria, heavy metals, and chemical compounds.
Tap Score
PFAS Forever Chemicals Test
$339.95
Specialized test for PFOA, PFOS, and 24 other forever chemicals. Essential for areas near military bases, airports, or industrial sites.
Tap Score
Haloacetic Acids (HAA9) Test
$275
Tests for disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water treatment.
With 4 contaminants above health guidelines, you may want to explore water purification options. Learn how to make distilled water at home for applications like humidifiers, CPAP machines, and baby formula.
What Charleston's water readings can explain
Utility-reported data for Charleston includes a chlorine-based disinfectant — the readings behind these common tap water questions. We publish a city-level hardness figure for Charleston, resolved from its water systems where they report one and estimated from county sampling where they do not. Each page starts with the hot-tap and cold-tap check, then shows what your own water system reported.
On a private well near Charleston? Public-water results do not apply to private wells. See Charleston County well water testing and USGS risk data — modeled arsenic, nitrate, and the tests to run.
Water softener cost and installation in Charleston
Charleston's tap water measures 3.4 grains per gallon (57.5 mg/L) — soft on the USGS scale, below the range where scale is usually worth treating.
Water softener cost for 3.4 gpg water in Charleston — equipment and local installation labour for your ZIP code, with the sizing arithmetic shown in full. For the national picture first, read what a water softener costs — equipment, installation labour and ten-year ownership, each separated out. For South Carolina as a whole, read water softener cost in South Carolina — priced against the plumber wage published for the state.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charleston Tap Water
Charleston's water has 4 contaminants above EPA MCLGs. We strongly recommend using a certified water filter to reduce exposure to these contaminants. Check our filter recommendations below for NSF-certified options that can remove the specific contaminants found in Charleston's water.
Spotted something off on this page?
Residents keep our data honest.
This form corrects our data; it does not reach CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001). For a problem with your water now (discolored water, no water, low pressure, a leak), contact CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001) directly.
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