Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001)
CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001) delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 327,422 residents in CHARLESTON, South Carolina using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Dibromoacetic acid significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 843-863-4038.
Is CHARLESTON tap water safe to drink?
CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001) delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 327,422 residents in CHARLESTON, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dibromoacetic acid, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Trichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for CHARLESTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001).
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 16.7 ppb, 278x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 11.4 ppb, 114x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Dibromoacetic acid significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernDibromoacetic acid detected at 1.73 ppb, 58x above the EWG health guideline of 0.03 ppb.
Contact CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001)
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for CHARLESTON
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 55/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
16.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 278× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
11.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 114× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.73 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 58× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
8.43 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 56× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.84 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 47× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
8.99 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.59 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
4.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.76 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 8.4× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.5 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.0× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.461 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.6× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0623 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.1× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
183.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.102 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.15 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
9.34 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.93 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
5.0 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.232 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
4.3 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2,4-D Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.04 ppb | 20.0 | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.4 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.58 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0535 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.17 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
CHARLESTON WATER SYSTEM (SC1010001) service area
This water system serves 1 community in Charleston County, South Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for CHARLESTON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.