PFAS in Drinking Water in South Carolina
What residents of South Carolina need to know about PFAS ("forever chemicals") in drinking water — including contamination sources, which utilities have documented violations, and how to filter PFAS from tap water.
Source: EPA SDWIS, South Carolina Department of Health, CDC · Last reviewed: 2025-01-01
Quick Answer
Is PFAS in drinking water a real concern in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina has PFAS contamination from multiple military installations including Shaw AFB in Sumter County, Joint Base Charleston, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Shaw AFB has documented AFFF contamination in surrounding groundwater affecting the Sumter area, and Joint Base Charleston has impacted communities in the Charleston metro.
Where does PFAS come from in South Carolina?
Shaw AFB near Sumter is South Carolina's most significant inland PFAS source, with AFFF plumes documented in Lee and Sumter county groundwater. Joint Base Charleston and the surrounding communities of Goose Creek and North Charleston face PFAS from AFFF used at the air base component. MCAS Beaufort and Parris Island in the Lowcountry also contribute PFAS loading to coastal groundwater systems.
What should South Carolina residents know?
Sumter area residents near Shaw AFB and North Charleston/Goose Creek residents near Joint Base Charleston face the highest documented risk. South Carolina DHEC has conducted statewide PFAS monitoring under UCMR5. The state's significant private well population in rural counties, combined with its military footprint, means many unregulated private well users may face PFAS exposure.
Key Facts
| EPA MCL (PFOA/PFOS) | 4 ppt — effective April 2024 |
| MCLG | Zero |
| Primary contamination sources | Shaw AFB (Sumter County), Joint Base Charleston (Charleston metro), MCAS Beaufort, Parris Island |
| State regulator | South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) |
| Health effects | Cancer (kidney, testicular), thyroid disruption, immune effects, developmental toxicity |
| Coastal geology concern | Lowcountry shallow water tables — complex PFAS migration patterns near coastal bases |
| Effective treatment | Reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58) or granular activated carbon certified for PFAS |
Why PFAS Matters in South Carolina
South Carolina's military presence is substantial — with multiple major Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army facilities — and each represents a potential PFAS source from AFFF use. Shaw AFB's PFAS contamination of Sumter County groundwater is among the most documented in the Southeast. Joint Base Charleston's air operations have contributed AFFF contamination to the greater Charleston metro area. The Lowcountry's coastal geology — where shallow water tables and tidal influences complicate contamination assessment — means PFAS from Beaufort-area bases may have complex migration patterns.
South Carolina PFAS Regulation
South Carolina DHEC participates in UCMR5 monitoring. Shaw AFB (Sumter), Joint Base Charleston, and McEntire Joint National Guard Base are the primary military PFAS sites. South Carolina does not have a state PFAS MCL more protective than the federal standard.
Largest South Carolina Water Utilities
No PFAS violations on record in EPA SDWIS for South Carolina utilities in our database. Browse the largest utilities to review their full water quality record.
What Are PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)?
PFAS are a family of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals used in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and AFFF firefighting foam. Their carbon-fluorine bonds do not break down in the environment or the body — hence the name “forever chemicals.” AFFF used at military bases is the single largest source of PFAS in U.S. drinking water.
Full PFAS overview — national data, health effects, all 50 statesWho Should Pay Closest Attention
Sumter and Lee County residents near Shaw AFB, North Charleston and Goose Creek residents near Joint Base Charleston, Beaufort County residents near MCAS Beaufort and Parris Island, and private well users in rural South Carolina near any military installation face elevated risk.
Residents near military bases with AFFF use history
Private well owners near military or industrial sites
Pregnant residents and families with young children
Residents in communities with documented PFAS detections
Anyone who has consumed water above 4 ppt for an extended period
Residents near airports, fire training areas, or industrial manufacturers
How to Check Your Situation in South Carolina
- 1
Identify your water utility using the ZIP lookup below or by browsing the South Carolina utility directory on this site.
- 2
Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — it must report PFAS monitoring results under UCMR5 and the new MCL.
- 3
Check the EPA's ECHO database for your utility's monitoring history. Look for PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, and related compound results.
- 4
Contact your utility directly and ask for their most recent PFAS test results and whether they are implementing treatment under the 2024 MCL.
- 5
If you use a private well near a military base, airport, or industrial facility, order a PFAS panel test from a state-certified laboratory. Tests typically cost $150–$400.
- 6
If PFAS is detected above 4 ppt in your source water, install a certified NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system or an NSF/ANSI 53-certified activated carbon filter rated for PFAS removal.
How to Remove PFAS from Tap Water
Reverse Osmosis (Best)
90–99% removal — NSF/ANSI 58 certified systems only
Certified Activated Carbon
Effective with NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification — verify before buying
Boiling concentrates PFAS. Standard pitcher filters and water softeners do not remove PFAS. Always verify NSF certification before purchasing.
Take Action Now
Look up your South Carolina utility's PFAS monitoring history on the PFAS Watchlist below.
If your utility has detected PFAS above 4 ppt, install an NSF/ANSI 58-certified reverse osmosis system at your drinking tap.
Private well owners near military or industrial sites should order a PFAS panel test ($150–$400 at a state-certified lab).
Request your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report — PFAS results must be disclosed under the new 2024 MCL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
PFAS — National Overview
All U.S. utilities with PFAS records
South Carolina PFAS Watchlist
Live utility PFAS monitoring data
South Carolina State Overview
All utilities and water quality data
Reverse Osmosis Guide
Removes 90–99% of PFAS
Activated Carbon Filter Guide
NSF/ANSI 53/58 certified options for PFAS
Arsenic in Drinking Water
Another priority contaminant
All Contaminants
Complete reference library
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.
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South Carolina Department of Health ↗