What was found in West 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 | 370.5 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2705 µg/L — BGWC HEATHERWOOD-BLUE RIDGE (SC3250015) · 455 people · 2019 | 17/27 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 2045 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: HIDDEN ACRES MHP (SC3260207) · 74 people · 2015 | 16/27 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 71.5 µg/L 5.5% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1929.4 µg/L — BGWC GLENN VILLAGE II (SC3250058) · 1,116 people · 2018 | 27/27 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1180 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1285 µg/L — BGWC HEATHERWOOD-BLUE RIDGE (SC3250015) · 455 people · 2019 | 9/27 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 84.21 µg/L 105% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 84.617 µg/L — BGWC THE LANDINGS (3250063) · 430 people · 2019 | 16/27 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 50.075 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 69.3315 µg/L — BGWC THE LANDINGS (3250063) · 430 people · 2019 | 15/27 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 59.901 µg/L 100% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 63.748 µg/L — BGWC ROLLINGWOOD (SC3250052) · 493 people · 2019 | 17/27 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 59.8 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC CREEKWOOD (3250042) · 136 people · 2019 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 4.8 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 39.7 µg/L — BGWC WESTSIDE TERRACE (3250002) · 172 people · 2019 | 25/27 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 31.8975 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 36.302 µg/L — BGWC ROLLINGWOOD (SC3250052) · 493 people · 2019 | 16/27 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 30.599 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 32.834 µg/L — BGWC ROLLINGWOOD (SC3250052) · 493 people · 2019 | 12/27 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 21.08 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019 | 14/27 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 17.73 µg/L 59% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC CEDARWOOD (SC3250047) · 300 people · 2012 | 5/27 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 11.88 pCi/L 79% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: BGWC HEATHERWOOD-BLUE RIDGE (SC3250015) · 455 people · 2019 | 9/27 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 9.837 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019 | 13/27 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 9.785 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BGWC HEATHERWOOD-BLUE RIDGE (SC3250015) · 455 people · 2019 | 6/27 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 9.3 µg/L 155% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 6 µg/L Highest in the city: HIDDEN ACRES MHP (SC3260207) · 74 people · 2012 | 3/27 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 9.008 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019 | 11/27 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.43 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BGWC THE LANDINGS (3250063) · 430 people · 2019 | 5/27 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 6.27 pCi/L 125% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: BGWC TANYA TERRACE (SC3250023) · 54 people · 2019 | 11/27 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.66 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019 | 9/27 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.3175 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2019 | 2/27 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.7590 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR RETIREMENT CENTER (SC3270010) · 45 people · 2019 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 0.7110 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC HEATHERWOOD-BLUE RIDGE (SC3250015) · 455 people · 2017 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | 0.6900 µg/L 9.9% of the EPA limit 7 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC HEATHERWOOD-BLUE RIDGE (SC3250015) · 455 people · 2017 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.2400 µg/L 4.8% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: ROLLING MEADOWS MHP (3260027) · 1,056 people · 2019 | 1/27 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0030 mg/L 20% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0690 mg/L — BGWC WESTSIDE TERRACE (3250002) · 172 people · 2025 | 27/27 | LCR |
| Hfpo-Da | 0.0097 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2025 | 2/27 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0079 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2025 | 2/27 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0061 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2025 | 1/27 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2025 | 2/27 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0053 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2025 | 2/27 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0041 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WEST COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC3210004) · 34,028 people · 2025 | 1/27 | 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 West Columbia
Frequently asked questions about West Columbia tap water
Is West Columbia tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 33 contaminants in the water serving West 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 West Columbia?
27 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for West Columbia, South Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in West Columbia's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in West Columbia include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, 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.