What was found in Pawleys Island'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 2225 µg/L 56% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3400 µg/L — GCWSD CARVERS BAY (SC2220013) · 3,133 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 740 µg/L 7.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 460 µg/L 4.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2012 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 147.00000000000003 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 376.5000000000001 µg/L — GCWSD WEDGEFIELD PLANTATION (2220006) · 1,132 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 86.05 µg/L 108% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 69.3075 µg/L 116% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 67.16 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 10 µg/L 67% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 60.65999999999979 µg/L — GCWSD WEDGEFIELD PLANTATION (2220006) · 1,132 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.08 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 48.625 µg/L — GCWSD KILSOCK WATER SYS (SC2220002) · 4,417 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 33.095 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 31.48 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 31.819 µg/L — GCWSD RED HILL (2220007) · 726 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 21.0025 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 24.921999999999997 µg/L — GCWSD CARVERS BAY (SC2220013) · 3,133 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.827999999999998 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.724999999999998 µg/L — GCWSD KILSOCK WATER SYS (SC2220002) · 4,417 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 7.300999999999999 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18.264499999999984 µg/L — GCWSD CARVERS BAY (SC2220013) · 3,133 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 17.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GCWSD KILSOCK WATER SYS (SC2220002) · 4,417 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.6435 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.494499999999999 µg/L — GCWSD GARDEN CITY POINT (SC2220011) · 1,790 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.588999999999998 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.362000000000002 µg/L — GCWSD KILSOCK WATER SYS (SC2220002) · 4,417 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 6.26 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GCWSD KILSOCK WATER SYS (SC2220002) · 4,417 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 3.03 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.5 pCi/L 30% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: GCWSD KILSOCK WATER SYS (SC2220002) · 4,417 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| PFOA | 0.0095 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2025 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0091 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2025 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0088 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2025 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0069 mg/L 46% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2024 | 7/7 | LCR |
| Pfba | 0.0068 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2025 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0061 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2025 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0051 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2025 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0040 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) · 41,300 people · 2025 | 1/7 | 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 Pawleys Island
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| GCWSD WACCAMAW NECK (SC2220010) | 41,300 |
| GCWSD KILSOCK WATER SYS (SC2220002) | 4,417 |
| GCWSD CARVERS BAY (SC2220013) | 3,133 |
| GCWSD GARDEN CITY POINT (SC2220011) | 1,790 |
| GCWSD WEDGEFIELD PLANTATION (2220006) | 1,132 |
| GCWSD PLANTERSVILLE SYS (2220004) | 1,079 |
| GCWSD RED HILL (2220007) | 726 |
Frequently asked questions about Pawleys Island tap water
Is Pawleys Island tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving Pawleys Island. 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 Pawleys Island?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Pawleys Island, South Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Pawleys Island's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Pawleys Island include Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, TTHM. 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.