Is Sumter, SC tap water safe?

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

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for City of Sumter.

13 public water systems serve parts of Sumter. The largest, City of Sumter, serves 53,070 people, and one system here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

City of Sumter

53,070 people · Groundwater · EPA ID SC4310001

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
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.

Lead: 0.79 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2024, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full City of Sumter 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.

Sumter homes and lead pipes

42%

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

built before 1950 (South Carolina 6%)

43%

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 Sumter city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Which system serves your ZIP code

Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.

System	ZIP codes in Sumter
City of Sumter 53,070 people	29150
Shaw AFB 9,000 people	29152

Other water systems serving Sumter

Shaw AFB
9,000 people · Groundwater · South Carolina · reported ZIPs here
PFOS above limitAlso: PFHxS above limit · PFOA detected
Oswego Rural Water Company
3,282 people · Purchased groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
BGWC Oakland Plantation
1,180 people · Groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Shiloh Water System
645 people · Groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Sumter-Wessex S/D Water System
412 people · Groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
BGWC Pocalla Development
327 people · Groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

6 more systems

Kokomo Palms MHP
280 people · Groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Crescent MHP
259 people · Groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Shaw Mobile Home Park Water System
173 people · Groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Lead near 2027 levelAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Granada Subdivision
150 people · Groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Cedar Hill MHP
128 people · Groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Whispering Pines MHP
80 people · Groundwater · South Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Columbia 30 mi City of Columbia	City of Columbia	Above limit	5 ppb
Florence 38 mi City of Florence	City of Florence	Above limit	1.1 ppb
Lexington 47 mi Joint Municipal WSC	Joint Municipal WSC	Above limit	4 ppb
Summerville 66 mi Summerville Commission of Public Works	Summerville Commission of Public Works	Above limit	0.3 ppb
Goose Creek 69 mi City of Goose Creek	City of Goose Creek	None above limits	0 ppb
North Charleston 73 mi Charleston Water System	Charleston Water System	Above limit	3.5 ppb

Questions

Is Sumter tap water safe to drink?

City of Sumter has had no health-based violations since 2016. 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 Sumter, SC?

13 public water systems serve parts of Sumter. The largest is City of Sumter (53,070 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Sumter tap water have PFAS?

None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Sumter had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.

Do Sumter homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 42% of Sumter 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. City of Sumter'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.