What was found in Columbia's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 461 µg/L 4.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2315 µg/L — WINSOR VALLEY MHP (SC4060008) · 68 people · 2019 | 11/13 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 2000 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: WINSOR VALLEY MHP (SC4060008) · 68 people · 2017 | 9/13 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 96.2 µg/L 7.4% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1122.5 µg/L — BGWC CHARLESWOOD S/D (4050008) · 484 people · 2019 | 13/13 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 654 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019 | 6/13 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 240 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019 | 5/13 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 53.8685 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 46.152 µg/L 58% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 50.6055 µg/L — BGWC FARROWWOOD ESTATES (SC4050012) · 356 people · 2019 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.44 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 41.04 µg/L — LAKEWOOD MHP (SC4060032) · 110 people · 2018 | 11/13 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 28.875 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 33.7665 µg/L — BGWC FARROWWOOD ESTATES (SC4050012) · 356 people · 2019 | 3/13 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 33.1375 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 22.2168 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 20.8815 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 16.4185 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 11.576 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.582 µg/L — BGWC FARROWWOOD ESTATES (SC4050012) · 356 people · 2019 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 11.17 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 11.025 pCi/L 221% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: BGWC CHARLESWOOD S/D (4050008) · 484 people · 2019 | 8/13 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 10.33 pCi/L 69% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: BGWC CHARLESWOOD S/D (4050008) · 484 people · 2019 | 9/13 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 9.9 µg/L 165% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 6 µg/L Highest in the city: LAKEWOOD MHP (SC4060032) · 110 people · 2019 | 2/13 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.95 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 6.372 µg/L 127% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L Highest in the city: LAKEWOOD MHP (SC4060032) · 110 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 6.0805 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2019 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 4.5115 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BGWC WASHINGTON HEIGHTS (SC4050013) · 190 people · 2019 | 2/13 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.633 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC WASHINGTON HEIGHTS (SC4050013) · 190 people · 2018 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | 0.8380 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: LAKEWOOD MHP (SC4060032) · 110 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0050 mg/L 33% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0120 mg/L — PALMETTO PARK (4060006) · 132 people · 2024 | 13/13 | LCR |
| Hfpo-Da | 0.0092 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2025 | 1/13 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0086 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2025 | 1/13 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0069 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2025 | 1/13 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0068 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2025 | 1/13 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0057 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2025 | 1/13 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0052 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2025 | 1/13 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0030 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) · 354,068 people · 2025 | 1/13 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Columbia
Frequently asked questions about Columbia tap water
Is Columbia tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 32 contaminants in the water serving Columbia. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Columbia?
13 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Columbia, South Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Columbia's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Columbia include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.