Utility-reported hardness
Unavailable
Ask your provider or test your tap
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Columbia, SC 29207
Regional hardness evidence, possible serving systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Richland County.
Historical measurement record needs context
- Largest possible serving system
- Columbia City Of (sc4010001)
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Richland County
- Profile updated
Your tap water
What does the utility report?
Match the utility name to your water bill. These results describe the utility’s water, not a test at your home. A ZIP can include several water systems.
Utility hardness unavailable in this index
Nearby river or groundwater samples cannot tell us the hardness coming out of your tap. Ask your water provider for total hardness as CaCO₃, or test it at home.
Find an official utility report →At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
All possible systems
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Measurements by utility
Each result belongs to a specific system.
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 354,068 people system-wide
Match the name on your water bill
Your utility’s measurements and compliance records
These are possible serving systems. A record for one system does not apply to every home in this ZIP. Confirm your provider before interpreting a measurement or notice. Federal records can lag current utility notices.
EPA snapshot: 2026Q2. Historical window begins Jan 1, 2021.
Columbia City Of (sc4010001)
SC4010001 · Surface water · 354,068 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (2)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0.005 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
33% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2021 to Dec 31, 2023
Chlorite
EPA SDWIS reported health-based violation
- Reported level
- 1.33 MG/L
- Maximum contaminant level
- 1 MG/L
133% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Dec 1, 2024 to Dec 16, 2024
Violation history (2)
| Rule | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|
| ChloriteHealth-based | Resolved | Dec 1, 2024 to Dec 16, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021 to Apr 30, 2021 |
Bay Capital Water Works (sc4050031)
SC4050031 · Groundwater · 647 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (1)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
0% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2021 to Dec 31, 2023
Violation history (0)
No record returned in this imported window. This is not a guarantee of tap-water safety.
Bgwc Charleswood S/d (4050008)
SC4050008 · Surface water · 484 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (1)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
0% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025
Violation history (0)
No record returned in this imported window. This is not a guarantee of tap-water safety.
Bgwc Farrowwood Estates (sc4050012)
SC4050012 · Surface water · 356 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (1)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
0% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025
Violation history (3)
| Rule | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Resolved | Jun 1, 2022 to Jun 30, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Resolved | Jun 1, 2022 to Jun 30, 2022 |
| Chlorine | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022 to Jun 30, 2022 |
Bgwc Washington Heights (sc4050013)
SC4050013 · Surface water · 190 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (1)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0.002 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
13% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025
Violation history (0)
No record returned in this imported window. This is not a guarantee of tap-water safety.
Silver Hill Manuf Home Comm. (sc4060019)
SC4060019 · Groundwater · 180 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (1)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0.001 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
7% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2022 to Dec 31, 2024
Violation history (2)
| Rule | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021 to Oct 1, 2022 |
Freeway Mhp (sc4060005)
SC4060005 · Groundwater · 135 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (1)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
0% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2022 to Dec 31, 2024
Violation history (0)
No record returned in this imported window. This is not a guarantee of tap-water safety.
Palmetto Park (4060006)
SC4060006 · Groundwater · 132 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (2)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0.012 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
80% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2022 to Dec 31, 2024
Copper (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 2.52 mg/L
- Action level
- 1.3 mg/L
194% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 1995 to Jun 30, 1995
Violation history (0)
No record returned in this imported window. This is not a guarantee of tap-water safety.
Lakewood Mhp (sc4060032)
SC4060032 · Groundwater · 110 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (2)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
0% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2022 to Dec 31, 2024
Copper (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 2 mg/L
- Action level
- 1.3 mg/L
154% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2003 to Jun 30, 2003
Violation history (0)
No record returned in this imported window. This is not a guarantee of tap-water safety.
Sandy Hill Mhp (sc4060064)
SC4060064 · Groundwater · 81 people served system-wide
The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.
No active health-based record in this imported snapshot
Find this utility’s official report →Measurements (2)
An action level is a regulatory trigger, not a pass/fail health boundary. A reported zero is the value in the source record and does not establish that lead is absent at your tap.
Lead (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 0.007 mg/L
- Action level
- 0.015 mg/L
47% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2022 to Dec 31, 2024
Copper (90th percentile)
EPA SDWIS Lead and Copper Rule samples
- Reported level
- 3.735 mg/L
- Action level
- 1.3 mg/L
287% of the listed benchmark
Monitoring period: Jan 1, 2001 to Jun 30, 2001
Violation history (0)
No record returned in this imported window. This is not a guarantee of tap-water safety.
Hardness meter
What does nearby environmental evidence show?
12.3
PPM as CaCO₃
Soft
PPM
12.3
GPG
0.7
Regional environmental evidence
USGS hardness classification scale
12.3 PPM
Soft
0–60Moderate
61–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–60Moderate
61–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
12.3
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
How to use regional evidence
These samples describe nearby environmental water. They cannot establish whether your tap water is soft or hard. Use a utility result or a tap test for appliance settings and treatment sizing.
USGS sites used
10
Nearest site
20.5 mi
Observation range
Nov 13, 2023–Dec 18, 2023
Regional evidence confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest source-type-aligned hardness observation at each monitoring site within 25 miles. Nearest monitoring location: BEECH CREEK AT EDGE HILL RD NR SUMTER, SC (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗Evidence tier: Regional environmental evidence. This value is not used as proof of the serving utility's treated-water hardness.
Regional context
Is 29207 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Columbia median
12 PPM
About the same3 indexed ZIP readings · Range 12–12.8 PPM
South Carolina median
27 PPM
15 PPM lower134 indexed ZIP readings · Range 3–1400 PPM
Evidence-first next steps
Confirm the problem before choosing treatment
This profile can help you ask the right question. It cannot select equipment for a property without a current result from the serving utility or the tap.
Confirm the serving system
ZIP boundaries and utility service areas do not perfectly match. Verify the system on a water bill before relying on system-wide records.
Read the current utility report
A reported action-level record needs context. Check its monitoring period and the utility's current report.
Find an official utility report →Test for the decision you face
Use a tap hardness test before sizing a softener. For health concerns, use a certified laboratory and the correct sampling protocol.
Convert your hardness test result →Nearby indexed reports
More local profiles in Columbia
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Columbia
Is tap water safe in Columbia?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Utility-reported hardness is unavailable in this index. Regional samples do not establish tap-water hardness. Ask your provider or test your tap.
Do I need a water softener?+
Confirm hardness at your tap and consider actual scale or spotting before choosing treatment. Regional environmental values cannot determine whether you need a softener. A softener addresses hardness, not every contaminant.