Hardness
Soft
18.7 PPM · 1.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Sumter, SC 29152
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Sumter County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Sumter City Of (sc4310001)
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Sumter 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
0.0029 mg/L
19% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 53,070 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
18.7 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
18.7
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
1.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 18.7 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
55
Nearest site
25 mi
Observation range
Aug 1, 2016–Nov 8, 2018
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: RIC- 571 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 29152 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Sumter median
19 PPM
About the same3 indexed ZIP readings · Range 17.7–21.2 PPM
South Carolina median
19 PPM
About the same236 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)
0.0029 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2019
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0029
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.4
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 10
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4360021 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| E. COLI | SC4360037 | Resolved | Sep 4, 2025through Sep 5, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | SC4360012 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jan 27, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | SC4360012 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jan 27, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | SC4360021 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | SC4360021 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Dec 17, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4360012 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4360010 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC4350014 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC4360012 | Resolved | May 1, 2021through May 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 Sumter ZIP 29152 using 18.7 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile) 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Sumter
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Sumter
Is tap water safe in Sumter?+
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 18.7 PPM, or 1.1 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.