What was found in Gaston'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 | 2350 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GASTON RURAL WATER DIST (SC3220002) · 7,550 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3600 µg/L — SAND MOUNTAIN MHP (SC3260183) · 40 people · 2019 | 9/9 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 2900 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: SAND MOUNTAIN MHP (SC3260183) · 40 people · 2015 | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 693.4999999999964 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: GASTON RURAL WATER DIST (SC3220002) · 7,550 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1664.999999999999 µg/L — UPPER CALHOUN/SANDY RUN (SC0920002) · 1,247 people · 2017 | 9/9 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 10.635499999999979 pCi/L 71% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: GASTON RURAL WATER DIST (SC3220002) · 7,550 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 32.925999999999995 pCi/L — PINEY LANE MHP (SC4060052) · 32 people · 2018 | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 31.99999999999998 µg/L 213% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: GASTON RURAL WATER DIST (SC3220002) · 7,550 people · 2017 | 9/9 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 9.6935 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC SANGAREE MHP (SC3260012) · 174 people · 2019 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 8.297 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BGWC SANGAREE MHP (SC3260012) · 174 people · 2019 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 8.169999999999998 pCi/L 163% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Main supplier: GASTON RURAL WATER DIST (SC3220002) · 7,550 people · 2019 | 9/9 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 1.04 µg/L 1.7% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: GASTON RURAL WATER DIST (SC3220002) · 7,550 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.28 µg/L — BGWC SANGAREE MHP (SC3260012) · 174 people · 2019 | 4/9 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 4.9 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: UPPER CALHOUN/SANDY RUN (SC0920002) · 1,247 people · 2012 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 4.16 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BGWC SANGAREE MHP (SC3260012) · 174 people · 2019 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3.866 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: UPPER CALHOUN/BELLEVILLE (0920001) · 1,779 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.92 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: UPPER CALHOUN/BELLEVILLE (0920001) · 1,779 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.81 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: UPPER CALHOUN/BELLEVILLE (0920001) · 1,779 people · 2019 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.5 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: SAND MOUNTAIN MHP (SC3260183) · 40 people · 2018 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.12 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BGWC SANGAREE MHP (SC3260012) · 174 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.04 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GASTON RURAL WATER DIST (SC3220002) · 7,550 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.9670 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: GASTON RURAL WATER DIST (SC3220002) · 7,550 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.3100 µg/L 6.2% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: RIDGE POINTE S/D (SC3250105) · 336 people · 2018 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0050 mg/L 33% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: GASTON RURAL WATER DIST (SC3220002) · 7,550 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0100 mg/L — PINEY LANE MHP (SC4060052) · 32 people · 2022 | 9/9 | LCR |
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 Gaston
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| GASTON RURAL WATER DIST (SC3220002) | 7,550 |
| UPPER CALHOUN/BELLEVILLE (0920001) | 1,779 |
| UPPER CALHOUN/SANDY RUN (SC0920002) | 1,247 |
| RIDGE POINTE S/D (SC3250105) | 336 |
| BGWC SANGAREE MHP (SC3260012) | 174 |
| HIGHLANDS AT GASTON (SC3270011) | 140 |
| HALTER ACRES MHP (SC3260090) | 90 |
| SAND MOUNTAIN MHP (SC3260183) | 40 |
| PINEY LANE MHP (SC4060052) | 32 |
Frequently asked questions about Gaston tap water
Is Gaston tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Gaston. 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 Gaston?
9 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Gaston, South Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Gaston's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Gaston include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U, Lead. 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.