State Well Water Guide
South Carolina Private Well Water Guide
About 30% of South Carolinians rely on private wells, primarily in rural Lowcountry, Pee Dee, and Upstate communities. South Carolina's coastal plain aquifers naturally contain elevated iron, manganese, and radium. Agricultural contamination from poultry and swine operations in the Pee Dee region contributes significant nitrate loading. PFAS from military installations, including Shaw AFB and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, affect areas of Sumter and Beaufort counties. SCDHEC provides well construction standards and voluntary testing guidance.
Testing Guidance
SCDHEC recommends annual testing for coliform bacteria and nitrates. Coastal plain well owners should test for iron, manganese, and radium. Pee Dee region agricultural areas should prioritize nitrate testing. Wells near Shaw AFB and MCAS Beaufort should be tested for PFAS. Upstate Piedmont well owners should test for arsenic.
What to Test For in South Carolina
Total coliform bacteria and E. coli — annual minimum
Nitrates — Pee Dee region and agricultural Coastal Plain areas
Iron and manganese — Coastal Plain aquifer wells; very common in SC
Radium-226 and -228 — Coastal Plain aquifer wells
Arsenic — Upstate Piedmont and Sandhills area wells
PFAS — near Shaw AFB, MCAS Beaufort, and McEntire JNGB
Total dissolved solids — Coastal Plain baseline assessment
Common Contamination Risks in South Carolina
Iron and manganese from coastal plain sediments — naturally very high throughout the SC Coastal Plain and causes major aesthetic and operational problems
Radium in coastal plain aquifers — the Black Creek and Middendorf aquifers have elevated gross alpha radiation in parts of the Pee Dee and Coastal Plain
Agricultural nitrates from Pee Dee farming — intensive livestock operations create high nitrogen loading in shallow aquifers
PFAS from military installations — Shaw AFB's AFFF use has been associated with groundwater contamination in Sumter County
Arsenic from Piedmont bedrock — elevated in some Upstate counties along the crystalline rock belt
Contaminant Guides Relevant to SC Wells
PFAS
Synthetic Chemicals
EPA limit: 4 ppt
Lead
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 15 ppb (action level)
Nitrates
Agricultural Chemicals
EPA limit: 10 mg/L
DBPs
Disinfection Byproducts
EPA limit: 80 µg/L (TTHMs) / 60 µg/L (HAA5)
Arsenic
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 10 ppb
Hard Water
Minerals
EPA limit: No federal limit
Chlorine
Disinfection Chemicals
EPA limit: 4 mg/L (MRDL)
Microplastics
Emerging Contaminants
EPA limit: No federal limit
Bacteria
Microbial Contamination
EPA limit: Zero E. coli / < 1 coliform per 100 mL
Fluoride
Minerals
EPA limit: 4 mg/L (MCL) / 2 mg/L (Secondary MCL)
Chromium-6
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 100 ppb (total chromium)
Copper
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 1.3 mg/L (action level)
Radon
Radioactive Contaminants
EPA limit: No finalized MCL
Iron & Manganese
Minerals
EPA limit: 0.3 mg/L iron / 0.05 mg/L manganese (aesthetic SMCLs)
Atrazine
Agricultural Chemicals
EPA limit: 3 ppb (0.003 mg/L)
Uranium
Radioactive Contaminants
EPA limit: 30 µg/L (30 ppb)
Perchlorate
Industrial Chemicals
EPA limit: 0.056 mg/L (56 ppb)
VOCs
Industrial Chemicals
EPA limit: Varies by compound: benzene 5 ppb; TCE 5 ppb; PCE 5 ppb; vinyl chloride 2 ppb
Radium
Radioactive Contaminants
EPA limit: 5 pCi/L (combined Ra-226 + Ra-228)
Crypto & Giardia
Microbial Contamination
EPA limit: Zero (treatment technique standard)
Hydrogen Sulfide
Naturally Occurring Compounds
EPA limit: No MCL; Secondary MCL (aesthetic) of 0.05 mg/L
Selenium
Minerals
EPA limit: 50 ppb (0.05 mg/L)
Cadmium
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 5 ppb (0.005 mg/L)
Mercury
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 2 ppb (0.002 mg/L)
Barium
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 2 mg/L
Find a Certified Lab in South Carolina
Use the South Carolina state-certified laboratory program to find accredited labs for private well testing. Always verify current certification before submitting samples.
SC Certified Lab Directory ↗South Carolina Well Water FAQs
Related Pages
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.
Quick Reference
State program
SC Certified Labs ↗EPA guidance
EPA Private Wells Program ↗State lab directory
SC Certified Labs ↗Minimum Annual Tests
Plus state-specific contaminants listed above
Other State Guides