Is Summerville, SC tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

Summerville Commission of Public Works, the largest system here, had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOA, PFOS) in EPA's 2023–2025 testing.

Is it an emergency? No: PFAS limits are about years of exposure, not a glass of water, and nothing in EPA's data calls for you to stop drinking the water today. If your utility issues a boil-water or do-not-drink notice, follow it.

9 public water systems serve parts of Summerville. The largest, Summerville Commission of Public Works, serves 81,750 people, and 3 systems here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Summerville Commission of Public Works

81,750 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID SC1810003

Buys treated water from Lake Moultrie Regional Water System.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	5.7 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS Above limit	6.7 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

For context: the PFOA average is higher than at 90% of the South Carolina systems EPA tested and the PFOS average is higher than at 81% of the South Carolina systems EPA tested.

Lead: 0.3 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full Summerville Commission of Public Works results

Across South Carolina, 53 of 163 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 3 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. South Carolina results.

Summerville homes and lead pipes

19%

of homes built before 1980 (South Carolina 33%, US 50%)

built before 1950 (South Carolina 6%)

31%

of households rent (South Carolina 28%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Summerville town (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving Summerville

Dcwa Knightsville Water System
40,141 people · Purchased surface water · South Carolina · lists this city
PFOA above limitAlso: PFOS above limit
Dcws/Clay Field Drive Water System
1,648 people · Purchased surface water · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Homecoming Subdivision
883 people · Purchased surface water · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Dcwa Calomet Valley Water System
275 people · Purchased surface water · South Carolina · lists this city
PFOS above limitAlso: PFOA detected · HFPO-DA detected
Heron's Walk Phase 1 Water System
231 people · Purchased surface water · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Dcws Highway 17A Water System
200 people · Purchased groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

2 more systems

Dcws Caleb Court Water System
156 people · Purchased surface water · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Sandy Run MHP
41 people · Groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Gross alpha violationsAlso: Coliform bacteria violation

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
North Charleston 9 mi Charleston Water System	Charleston Water System	Above limit	3.5 ppb
Goose Creek 10 mi City of Goose Creek	City of Goose Creek	None above limits	0 ppb
Charleston 17 mi Charleston Water System	Charleston Water System	Above limit	3.5 ppb
Mount Pleasant 23 mi Mt Pleasant Waterworks	Mt Pleasant Waterworks	Above limit	1 ppb
Hilton Head Island 65 mi Hilton Head Public Service District 1	Hilton Head Public Service District 1	None above limits	1 ppb
Sumter 66 mi City of Sumter	City of Sumter	None above limits	0.79 ppb

Summerville ZIP codes (1)

29483

Questions

Is Summerville tap water safe to drink?

Summerville Commission of Public Works has had no health-based violations since 2016, and EPA testing found PFAS above the 2024 federal limits, which it must meet by 2029. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Summerville, SC?

9 public water systems serve parts of Summerville. The largest is Summerville Commission of Public Works (81,750 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Summerville tap water have PFAS?

Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing found entry-point averages above the 2024 federal limits for PFOA and PFOS at Summerville Commission of Public Works. Systems have until 2029 to meet them.

Do Summerville homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 19% of Summerville homes as built before 1980 (South Carolina: 33%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Summerville Commission of Public Works's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.