Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in LANCASTER, South Carolina
Tap water in LANCASTER, South Carolina receives a grade of F (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by LANCASTER COUNTY W&SD (SC2920001). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in LANCASTER's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving LANCASTER.
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 12.7 ppb, 212x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 18.6 ppb, 124x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 10.4 ppb, 104x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Recommended filters for LANCASTER
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in LANCASTER's 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.
All contaminants detected in LANCASTER's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
12.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 212× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
18.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 124× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
10.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 104× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.36 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 89× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.85 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 34× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)* PFAS |
3.1 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 34× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.44 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 34× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
11.4 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.8 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)* PFAS |
3.3 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 11× over |
| Nitrate* Inorganic |
1.0 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 7.2× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.13 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.5× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.132 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.4× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
293.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.23 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.09 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium* Heavy metal |
0.707 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)* PFAS |
4.8 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)* PFAS |
4.6 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.058 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride* Inorganic |
0.643 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone Other |
0.03 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from LANCASTER COUNTY W&SD (SC2920001).