Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026

GSW&SA (SC2620004)

Serving 252,840 residents in CONWAY, South Carolina .

National rank 24th percentile
South Carolina rank 36th percentile
Data confidence Medium
D
55/100
Below Average
ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Quick answer

GSW&SA (SC2620004) delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 252,840 residents in CONWAY, 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; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 843-234-8989.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?
252,840
People served
1
City served
32
Contaminants detected
14
Above health guidelines
0
EPA violations (5 yr)

Is CONWAY tap water safe to drink?

GSW&SA (SC2620004) 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 252,840 residents in CONWAY, drawing from surface water. Despite being legal under US EPA standards, this water would fail the European Union's Drinking Water Directive, primarily due to pfas contamination.

Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Dibromochloromethane, Nitrate and nitrite, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Atrazine. 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.

Top concerns in this water

Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for GSW&SA (SC2620004).

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorooctane 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 concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 36.2 ppb, 604x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 25.2 ppb, 252x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 30.8 ppb, 205x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

Contact GSW&SA (SC2620004)

Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.

Recommended water filters for CONWAY

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.

Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon

$80-$750

Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

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 →

Health Guideline Performance
10 / 40
Legal Compliance
20 / 20
High-Risk Contaminants
8 / 20
Compliance History
10 / 10
Source Water Vulnerability
7 / 10

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 →

🇪🇺
This water would fail European Union drinking water standards. One or more detected contaminants exceed EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184 limits, even though they may be fully legal under US EPA rules. View the standards we compare against →
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
36.2 ppb 0.06 604× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
25.2 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 252× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
30.8 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 205× over
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
5.62 ppb 0.06 94× over
Trichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
8.71 ppb 0.1 87× over
Dichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
16.3 ppb 0.2 81× over
Chloroform
Disinfection byproduct
24.9 ppb 0.4 62× over
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
PFAS
3.36 ppt 0.09 4.0 100 100 0.007 37× over
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
PFAS
3.48 ppt 0.3 4.0 100 100 1 12× over
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
0.282 ppb 0.1 2.8× over
Nitrate and nitrite
Inorganic
0.345 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 2.5× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.0461 ppb 0.02 2.3× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.314 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 2.2× over
Atrazine
Pesticide/Herbicide
0.182 ppb 0.1 3.0 0.1 100 0.15 Fails EU
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
167.5 ppb 210.0 Below guideline
1,4-Dioxane
Semi-volatile organic compound
0.178 ppb 0.35 50 1 Below guideline
Dibromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.0117 ppb 0.03 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
4.36 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
Vanadium
Other
0.305 ppb 21.0 Below guideline
Monochloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.271 ppb 53.0 Below guideline
Molybdenum
Other
0.15 ppb 40.0 Below guideline
Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)
PFAS
3.72 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)
PFAS
2.19 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene)
Volatile organic compound
0.133 ppb 70.0 100.0 1 10 0.15 Below guideline
Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA)
PFAS
1.63 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)
PFAS
1.25 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)
PFAS
1.38 ppt 2000.0 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.0503 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
Dicamba
Other
0.13 ppb Below guideline
Fluoride
Inorganic
1.21 ppm 4.0 1.5 1.5 Below guideline
Lithium
Other
5.99 ppb Below guideline
Metolachlor
Pesticide/Herbicide
0.1 ppb 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.

GSW&SA (SC2620004) service area

This water system serves 1 community in Horry County, South Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.

About this water system

Public Water System ID
SC2620004
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Surface water
Service connections
108,645
Service area
CONWAY, Horry County, South Carolina