Nitrate In Drinking Water In South Carolina
What residents of South Carolina need to know about nitrate in drinking water — including how it enters water, which utilities have documented violations, and what steps to take.
Source: EPA SDWIS, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), CDC · Last reviewed: 2025-01-01
Quick Answer
Is nitrate in drinking water a real concern in South Carolina?
Yes — South Carolina's poultry, hog, and tobacco farming generates nitrate loading, and the Coastal Plain's sandy soils allow relatively rapid nitrate percolation to groundwater used by private wells.
Is this mostly a public-water issue, a private-well issue, or both?
Primarily private well users in agricultural counties in the Pee Dee region and midlands; public water systems are monitored by SCDHEC.
What is the main reason residents should care?
South Carolina's Pee Dee region — Florence, Marion, Horry, and surrounding Counties — has poultry, hog, and tobacco operations. Manure and fertilizer applied to Coastal Plain sandy soils can leach nitrate relatively quickly into shallow groundwater.
Key Facts
| EPA Nitrate MCL | 10 mg/L as N |
| Pee Dee region | Poultry, hog, and tobacco farming with manure application on sandy Coastal Plain soils |
| Coastal Plain geology | Sandy soils with shallow water tables allow faster nitrate percolation to groundwater |
| Private well risk | Pee Dee agricultural county well users should test annually |
| State oversight | South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) |
Why This Matters in South Carolina
South Carolina's Pee Dee region in the northeastern part of the state has a mix of poultry, hog, and tobacco farming with significant manure and fertilizer application. The Coastal Plain geology — sandy soils with shallow water tables — provides limited natural filtration as surface water moves to groundwater. Private wells in farming communities in this region can accumulate nitrate from surface agriculture. SCDHEC monitors public water systems for nitrate compliance and provides private well testing guidance through county environmental health offices.
Critical — Infants Under 6 Months
Do not use tap water that exceeds 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen to prepare infant formula or feed infants under six months. Boiling will concentrate nitrate — do not boil. Use bottled water or a certified reverse osmosis system (NSF/ANSI 58) until the issue is resolved.
South Carolina Utilities With Nitrate Violation Records
The utilities listed below have at least one nitrate violation on record in EPA's SDWIS database. Violations may be open or resolved — see individual utility pages for current status and risk level.
Greenville Water (2310001)
Greenville · 396,265 served
Gsw&sa (sc2620004)
Conway · 252,840 served
Sumter City of (sc4310001)
Sumter · 53,070 served
Greenwood Cpw (2410001)
Greenwood · 52,022 served
Goose Creek City of (sc0810004)
Goose Creek · 43,744 served
N Myrtle Beach City of (sc2610011)
North Myrtle Beach · 40,625 served
Easley Combined Util (sc3910002)
Easley · 36,098 served
Powdersville Water District (sc0420002)
Easley · 34,960 served
York County East Wd (sc4620002)
York · 30,225 served
Fort Mill Town of (sc4610003)
Fort Mill · 25,000 served
How Nitrate Gets Into Drinking Water
Agricultural fertilizer and manure runoff
Nitrogen-based fertilizers and animal waste applied to South Carolina cropland can leach into groundwater or run off into surface water supplies. This is the dominant nitrate pathway in most agricultural regions.
Septic system effluent
Failing or poorly sited septic systems release nitrogen-rich wastewater near drinking water wells. Rural areas with high well density and aging septic infrastructure face elevated risk.
Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)
Large livestock facilities generate significant waste. Lagoon leaks and overapplication of manure to nearby fields can create localized nitrate hotspots in groundwater.
Natural geological deposits
In some regions, naturally occurring nitrogen compounds in soil and bedrock contribute background nitrate levels to groundwater independent of agricultural activity.
Who Should Pay Closest Attention
Private well users in South Carolina's Pee Dee agricultural counties (Florence, Marion, Darlington, Horry) should test for nitrate annually. Households with infants using private well water in these areas should use current test results before formula preparation.
Households with infants under six months
Pregnant residents
Private well owners in agricultural areas
Households near livestock operations or CAFOs
Rural residents on shallow groundwater wells
Households with older or failing septic systems nearby
How to Check Your Situation in South Carolina
- 1
Identify your water utility. Use the ZIP lookup below or browse the South Carolina utility directory on this site.
- 2
Read your utility's page on this site to see its current risk level and any open nitrate violations.
- 3
Review your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — mailed annually or available on the utility's website. It must disclose any MCL exceedances.
- 4
If you are on a private well, arrange testing at a South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC)-certified lab. Your state health department maintains a list of certified labs. Annual testing is recommended in agricultural areas.
- 5
If you have an infant under six months, use bottled water or a certified RO system (NSF/ANSI 58) immediately as a precautionary measure — do not wait for test results if you are in a high-risk area.
- 6
If your utility issues a nitrate exceedance notice, follow their guidance and do not use tap water for infants until the issue is resolved.
Treatment Options
Carbon filters and boiling do not remove nitrate. Only the options below are effective.
NSF/ANSI Standard 58 — Reverse Osmosis
RO systems certified to NSF/ANSI 58 reduce nitrate by 85–95% at the point of use. Under-sink installation required. The most practical residential option for nitrate concerns.
Distillation
Distillation units effectively remove nitrate along with most other dissolved contaminants. Suitable for drinking and cooking water — not whole-house use.
Anion Exchange
Ion exchange systems designed for nitrate removal exchange nitrate ions for chloride on a resin bed. Effective as a point-of-entry system; requires periodic regeneration and monitoring.
Carbon filters do NOT remove nitrate
Standard pitcher filters, faucet filters, and under-sink carbon units — including those certified NSF/ANSI 42 or 53 — do not remove nitrate. Do not use these for nitrate reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
Nitrate — National Overview
All U.S. utilities with nitrate records
South Carolina State Overview
All utilities and water quality data
Lead in Drinking Water
A separate but common concern
Reverse Osmosis Guide
Removes 85–95% of nitrate
Well Water Guide
Private well testing and safety
All Contaminants
Complete reference library
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.