Water Service Outages in South Carolina by City
The most common health-based drinking water violation in South Carolina since 2015 involves contaminant averages over the limit; 115 of 562 systems have had at least one violation.
South Carolina drinking water record
Busiest year: 2024 (52 violations). Counted by the year the violation period began. Source: EPA SDWIS.
- Community water systems: 562 active systems serve about 4,815,162 people. 400 of them (71%) serve 3,300 people or fewer; 343 draw mainly on groundwater and 219 on surface water.
- Health-based violations since 2015: 296, at 115 systems (20% of all systems). That share is 11th of 50 states (1 = lowest).
- Most common problems: contaminant averages over the limit (189); E. coli (25); uncertified operators (9). Source: EPA SDWIS
- Largest system: Greenville Water (Sc2310001), about 426,057 people, with 0 health-based violations since 2015. Source: EPA SDWIS
- Housing age: the median South Carolina home was built in 1992 (US 1980). Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 (table B25035)
- Storm damage to water service: NOAA storm narratives mention water mains, boil water notices or lost water service in 8 episodes in South Carolina since 2015. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database
- September 27, 2024, Spartanburg (flash flood): “The North Pacolet inundated several roads in the north part of the county, including Highway 14, roads near the water treatment plant.” Source: NOAA Storm Events Database
- August 30, 2023, Orangeburg (heavy rain): “NWS Cooperative Observer at the Holly Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant reported storm total rainfall of 13.55 inches in 24 hours.” Source: NOAA Storm Events Database
| System | People served | Main source | Health violations since 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville Water (Sc2310001) | 426,057 | Surface water | 0 |
| Columbia City of (Sc4010001) | 354,068 | Surface water | 3 |
| Charleston Water System (Sc1010001) | 327,422 | Surface water | 0 |
| Gsw&Sa (Sc2620004) | 252,840 | Surface water | 0 |
| Spartanburg Water System (Sc4210001) | 166,364 | Surface water | 2 |
| Bjw&Sa (Sc0720003) | 164,829 | Surface water | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
South Carolina is 2nd of 3 (1 = lowest share). Source: EPA SDWIS.
Checked September 2026.
Who to call in South Carolina, city by city
5 South Carolina cities on this site and the water utility for each. What to do while you wait is in our water service outage guide.
- Charleston Charleston Water System
- Columbia City of Columbia Water
- North Charleston Charleston Water System
- Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant Waterworks
- Rock Hill City of Rock Hill Utilities
Frequently asked questions
Is there a water service outage in South Carolina right now?
Not on this site: no reports from South Carolina in the last 24 hours.
How many public water systems are in South Carolina?
EPA records list 562 active community water systems in South Carolina, serving about 4,815,162 people. 71% serve 3,300 people or fewer.
How common are drinking water violations in South Carolina?
Since 2015, 115 of 562 community water systems in South Carolina (20%) have had at least one health-based violation, 296 in total.
What is the largest water system in South Carolina?
Greenville Water (Sc2310001), which EPA records list as serving about 426,057 people.
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
Cities in South Carolina with Water Service Outages Information
Charleston
no reports in the last 24 hours · pop. 150,227
Charleston Water System
Columbia
no reports in the last 24 hours · pop. 136,632
City of Columbia Water
Mount Pleasant
no reports in the last 24 hours · pop. 91,484
Mount Pleasant Waterworks
North Charleston
no reports in the last 24 hours · pop. 114,852
Charleston Water System
Rock Hill
no reports in the last 24 hours · pop. 74,795
City of Rock Hill Utilities