Hardness
Soft
13.4 PPM · 0.8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Summerville, SC 29483
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Dorchester County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Summerville Cpw (sc1810003)
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Dorchester County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
1.9e-4 mg/L
1% of action level
Utility match
9 systems
Serves 81,750 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
13.4 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
13.4
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 13.4 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
19
Nearest site
9.1 mi
Observation range
Jan 11, 2016–May 12, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: EDISTO RIVER NR GIVHANS, SC (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 29483 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Summerville median
13 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 13.4–13.4 PPM
South Carolina median
19 PPM
6 PPM lower236 indexed ZIP readings · Range 4.2–106 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
1.9e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.9e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Measured in PCI/L
Local 18.3
EPA limit 15
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 11
- Health-based
- 9
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 18.3 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SC0860037 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 21 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SC0860037 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 20 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SC0860037 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 20 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SC0860037 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 18 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SC0860037 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Mar 31, 2022 |
| TTHM | SC1820009 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | SC1820009 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 18 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SC0860037 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 21 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SC0860037 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 18 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SC0860037 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and UHealth-basedReported 19 PCI/L · MCL 15 | SC0860037 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 31, 2021 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Summerville ZIP 29483 using 13.4 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U has a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Summerville
Is tap water safe in Summerville?+
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?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 13.4 PPM, or 0.8 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.