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Water Hardness in South Carolina

Across 78 measured cities — with 152 more covered by labeled county-level estimates — South Carolina's median tap water hardness is 35.2 mg/L (2.1 gpg): soft on the USGS scale. Below: every covered city, the state's hardest and softest water, and the geology that explains it.

Data updated July 6, 2026. Sources: utility-reported water quality data and USGS/EPA Water Quality Portal samples.

State Median
35.2
mg/L (2.1 gpg), measured cities
Measured Range
8.4-102.0
mg/L across measured cities
Measured Cities
78
utility-reported or computed values
County Estimates
152
66% of covered cities

South Carolina Cities by Hardness Category

Measured cities only — labeled county estimates never enter the category counts or the median.

CategoryRangeMeasured citiesShare
Soft0-60 mg/L7596.2%
Moderately hard60-120 mg/L33.8%
Hard120-180 mg/L00.0%
Very hard>180 mg/L00.0%

Hardest and Softest Water in South Carolina

Measured values only; labeled county estimates and values under active dispute never rank.

Hardest water in South Carolina

  1. Daufuskie Island — 102.0 mg/L (6.0 gpg), moderately hard
  2. Hilton Head Island — 97.5 mg/L (5.7 gpg), moderately hard
  3. Isle of Palms — 63.5 mg/L (3.7 gpg), moderately hard
  4. Kiawah Island — 59.8 mg/L (3.5 gpg), soft
  5. Mount Pleasant — 59.4 mg/L (3.5 gpg), soft

Softest water in South Carolina

  1. Berea — 8.4 mg/L (0.5 gpg), soft
  2. City View — 8.4 mg/L (0.5 gpg), soft
  3. Conestee — 8.4 mg/L (0.5 gpg), soft
  4. Dunean — 8.4 mg/L (0.5 gpg), soft
  5. Five Forks — 8.4 mg/L (0.5 gpg), soft

Every Covered City in South Carolina

All 230 covered South Carolina cities, sorted by population served. "County estimate" rows are labeled context values from USGS/EPA Water Quality Portal county sampling — they never enter the median above. City names link to each city's full water quality page.

CityHardness (mg/L)gpgCategoryData
Greenville8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Slater-Marietta8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Pelzer8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
West Pelzer8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Travelers Rest8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Berea8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
City View8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Conestee8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Dunean8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Five Forks8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Fountain Inn8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Gantt8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Golden Grove8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Judson8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Mauldin8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Parker8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Piedmont8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Sans Souci8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Simpsonville8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Taylors8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
The Cliffs Valley8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Wade Hampton8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Welcome8.40.5SoftUtility-reported
Columbia37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Capitol View37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Forest Acres37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Charleston56.73.3SoftUtility-reported
Chapin37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Irmo37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Arcadia Lakes37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Arthurtown37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Blythewood37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Cayce37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Dentsville37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Hopkins37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Lake Murray of Richland37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Olympia37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Seven Oaks37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
St. Andrews37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
West Columbia37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
Woodfield37.42.2SoftUtility-reported
James Island57.53.4SoftUtility-reported
Socastee31.21.8SoftUtility-reported
Bucksport31.21.8SoftUtility-reported
Murrells Inlet31.21.8SoftUtility-reported
Goose Creek45.72.7SoftUtility-reported
Spartanburg15.60.9SoftUtility-reported
Ridgeland43.02.5SoftUtility-reported
Okatie43.02.5SoftUtility-reported
Hardeeville43.02.5SoftUtility-reported
Port Royal43.02.5SoftUtility-reported
Arkwright15.60.9SoftUtility-reported
Ben Avon15.60.9SoftUtility-reported
Drayton15.60.9SoftUtility-reported
Hanahan50.93.0SoftUtility-reported
North Augusta23.31.4SoftUtility-reported
Summerville26.11.5SoftUtility-reported
North Charleston53.13.1SoftUtility-reported
Greer12.00.7SoftCounty estimate
Lancaster30.01.8SoftCounty estimate
Mount Pleasant59.43.5SoftUtility-reported
Rock Hill33.01.9SoftUtility-reported
Elgin13.00.8SoftCounty estimate
Florence21.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Sumter23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Lyman15.00.9SoftCounty estimate
Wellford15.00.9SoftCounty estimate
Conway42.22.5SoftUtility-reported
Greenwood19.01.1SoftCounty estimate
Myrtle Beach30.01.8SoftCounty estimate
Aiken31.81.9SoftUtility-reported
Laurens19.01.1SoftCounty estimate
Anderson12.50.7SoftCounty estimate
Hilton Head Island97.55.7Moderately hardUtility-reported
Orangeburg23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Red Hill42.22.5SoftUtility-reported
North Myrtle Beach30.01.8SoftCounty estimate
Gaffney21.41.3SoftUtility-reported
York29.21.7SoftCounty estimate
Seneca4.80.3SoftCounty estimate
East Gaffney21.41.3SoftUtility-reported
Inman15.00.9SoftCounty estimate
Easley12.50.7SoftCounty estimate
Woodruff15.00.9SoftCounty estimate
Williamston12.50.7SoftCounty estimate
Clemson8.50.5SoftCounty estimate
Westminster4.80.3SoftCounty estimate
Cassatt13.00.8SoftCounty estimate
Graniteville4.90.3SoftCounty estimate
Little River41.22.4SoftUtility-reported
Pickens8.50.5SoftCounty estimate
Chesterfield9.50.6SoftCounty estimate
Dillon12.00.7SoftCounty estimate
Fort Mill31.01.8SoftUtility-reported
Ruby9.50.6SoftCounty estimate
Lugoff13.00.8SoftCounty estimate
Johns Island51.83.0SoftUtility-reported
Chesnee15.00.9SoftCounty estimate
Riverview30.61.8SoftUtility-reported
Newberry25.01.5SoftCounty estimate
Union27.01.6SoftCounty estimate
Daufuskie Island102.06.0Moderately hardUtility-reported
Nichols30.01.8SoftCounty estimate
Georgetown30.01.8SoftCounty estimate
Walhalla4.80.3SoftCounty estimate
Chester31.01.8SoftCounty estimate
Bennettsville11.00.6SoftCounty estimate
Camden13.00.8SoftCounty estimate
Six Mile8.50.5SoftCounty estimate
Kingstree23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Liberty8.50.5SoftCounty estimate
Walterboro23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Gloverville4.90.3SoftCounty estimate
Langley4.90.3SoftCounty estimate
Lake City21.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Tega Cay27.71.6SoftUtility-reported
Kiawah Island59.83.5SoftUtility-reported
Isle of Palms63.53.7Moderately hardUtility-reported
Marion15.50.9SoftCounty estimate
New Ellenton4.90.3SoftCounty estimate
Starr12.50.7SoftCounty estimate
Hartsville22.01.3SoftCounty estimate
Beech Island4.90.3SoftCounty estimate
Moncks Corner20.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Warrenville4.90.3SoftCounty estimate
Swansea15.00.9SoftCounty estimate
Mullins15.50.9SoftCounty estimate
Darlington22.01.3SoftCounty estimate
Belton12.50.7SoftCounty estimate
Allendale27.01.6SoftCounty estimate
Norris8.50.5SoftCounty estimate
Salem4.80.3SoftCounty estimate
Cheraw9.50.6SoftCounty estimate
Pendleton12.50.7SoftCounty estimate
Johnsonville21.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Donalds14.00.8SoftCounty estimate
Folly Beach161.59.4HardCounty estimate
Pacolet21.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Barnwell20.31.2SoftCounty estimate
Landrum12.00.7SoftCounty estimate
Jonesville27.01.6SoftCounty estimate
Honea Path12.50.7SoftCounty estimate
Blacksburg21.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Dalzell23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Loris30.01.8SoftCounty estimate
Bishopville14.00.8SoftCounty estimate
Bamberg49.52.9SoftCounty estimate
Jackson4.90.3SoftCounty estimate
Bethune13.00.8SoftCounty estimate
Wallace11.00.6SoftCounty estimate
Hampton35.02.0SoftCounty estimate
Carlisle31.01.8SoftCounty estimate
Denmark49.52.9SoftCounty estimate
Central8.50.5SoftCounty estimate
Andrews23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Marietta12.00.7SoftCounty estimate
Williston20.31.2SoftCounty estimate
Lockhart27.01.6SoftCounty estimate
Hemingway30.01.8SoftCounty estimate
Ware Shoals19.01.1SoftCounty estimate
Ninety Six19.01.1SoftCounty estimate
Brunson35.02.0SoftCounty estimate
Kershaw30.01.8SoftCounty estimate
Jenkinsville26.01.5SoftCounty estimate
Neeses23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Pageland9.50.6SoftCounty estimate
Sullivans Island161.59.4HardCounty estimate
Calhoun Falls14.00.8SoftCounty estimate
Santee23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
North23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Coward21.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Saluda20.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Whitmire25.01.5SoftCounty estimate
St. George26.01.5SoftCounty estimate
Latta12.00.7SoftCounty estimate
Estill35.02.0SoftCounty estimate
Summerton20.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Ladson161.59.4HardCounty estimate
Fairfax27.01.6SoftCounty estimate
Blackville20.31.2SoftCounty estimate
Great Falls31.01.8SoftCounty estimate
Iva14.00.8SoftCounty estimate
Varnville35.02.0SoftCounty estimate
Bath4.90.3SoftCounty estimate
Gaston15.00.9SoftCounty estimate
Holly Hill23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Pamplico21.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Elloree23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Prosperity25.01.5SoftCounty estimate
Monetta4.90.3SoftCounty estimate
Ridge Spring4.90.3SoftCounty estimate
Bowman23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Yemassee23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Lake View12.00.7SoftCounty estimate
Branchville23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Wagener4.90.3SoftCounty estimate
Scranton21.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Lamar22.01.3SoftCounty estimate
Jefferson9.50.6SoftCounty estimate
Heath Springs30.01.8SoftCounty estimate
Jamestown20.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Clio11.00.6SoftCounty estimate
Lane23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Norway23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Springfield23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Olanta21.01.2SoftCounty estimate
Ehrhardt49.52.9SoftCounty estimate
Lynchburg14.00.8SoftCounty estimate
Awendaw161.59.4HardCounty estimate
West Union4.80.3SoftCounty estimate
Salley4.90.3SoftCounty estimate
Catawba29.21.7SoftCounty estimate
Ravenel161.59.4HardCounty estimate
Elko20.31.2SoftCounty estimate
Reevesville26.01.5SoftCounty estimate
Bluffton43.52.5SoftUtility-reported
Gifford35.02.0SoftCounty estimate
Olar49.52.9SoftCounty estimate
Ulmer27.01.6SoftCounty estimate
Furman35.02.0SoftCounty estimate
Smoaks23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Scotia35.02.0SoftCounty estimate
Lodge23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Williams23.01.4SoftCounty estimate
Beaufort40.72.4SoftUtility-reported
Burton40.72.4SoftUtility-reported
Laurel Bay40.72.4SoftUtility-reported
Waterloo19.01.1SoftCounty estimate
Clover29.21.7SoftCounty estimate
Lexington15.00.9SoftCounty estimate

Above 120 mg/L (7 gpg), scale is usually worth treating — see our water softener guide, or size a system with the hardness calculator & converter.

The Geology Behind South Carolina's Water Hardness

South Carolina sits in the Southeastern Coastal Plain and Piedmont region.

Much of the Southeast draws its water from sandy Coastal Plain aquifers and from rivers draining crystalline Piedmont rock - neither contributes much dissolved calcium or magnesium. As a result the USGS maps most of the region as soft to moderately hard. Hardness climbs where supplies tap deeper limestone units near the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.

Source: USGS Water Science School - Hardness of Water

South Carolina Water Hardness FAQ

Does South Carolina have hard water?

On the whole, no — South Carolina's statewide median sits below the hard threshold, though some cities run harder. The median is 35.2 mg/L (2.1 gpg) — soft on the USGS scale, where anything above 120 mg/L (7 gpg) counts as hard. 0 of South Carolina's 78 measured cities fall in the hard or very hard bands (0%), so check your own city rather than the state average.

How hard is tap water in South Carolina?

Across the 78 South Carolina cities with measured values in our index, the median hardness is 35.2 mg/L (2.1 gpg) — soft on the USGS scale. Individual cities range from 8.4 to 102.0 mg/L, so check your own city rather than assuming the state number.

Which city in South Carolina has the hardest water?

Daufuskie Island has the hardest measured tap water in our South Carolina index at 102.0 mg/L (6.0 gpg) — moderately hard on the USGS scale. Rankings use measured utility values only; labeled county estimates and values under active dispute are excluded.

Do I need a water softener in South Carolina?

0 of South Carolina's 78 measured cities (0%) fall in the hard or very hard bands — above 120 mg/L (7 gpg), the level where most water treatment professionals suggest considering an ion-exchange softener. Hardness varies utility to utility, so look up your own city's value before sizing equipment.

How do I find my city's exact water hardness?

Enter your ZIP code in our free lookup at tapwaterdata.com/zip to see the value we hold for your South Carolina city from utility-reported water quality data, check your water utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), or use a home test-strip kit.

← Water hardness across the USInteractive hardness mapCalculator & converterFree ZIP-code hardness lookupData & methodology

By TapWaterData Editorial

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