Hardness
Soft
11.8 PPM · 0.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in West Columbia, SC 29169
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Lexington County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- West Columbia City Of (sc3210004)
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Lexington 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
0.003 mg/L
20% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 34,028 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
11.8 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
11.8
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 11.8 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
18
Nearest site
34.4 mi
Observation range
Jan 19, 2016–Dec 2, 2024
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: BEECH CREEK AT EDGE HILL RD NR SUMTER, SC (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 29169 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
West Columbia median
12 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 11.8–11.8 PPM
South Carolina median
19 PPM
7 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)
0.003 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
2.167 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2015
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.003
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 2.167
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 42
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC3260059 | Resolved | Feb 25, 2026through Mar 9, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | SC3260059 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | SC3260027 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC3260027 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | SC3260059 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | SC3260022 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | SC3260207 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| E. COLI | SC3260207 | Addressed | Nov 29, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC3260027 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC3260059 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC3260022 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC3260207 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | SC3270010 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| E. COLI | SC3260207 | Addressed | May 8, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC3260207 | Addressed | Nov 1, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC3250099 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jul 31, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC3250017 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | SC3250017 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | SC3250051 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | SC3250051 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
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 West Columbia ZIP 29169 using 11.8 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for West Columbia
Is tap water safe in West 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?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 11.8 PPM, or 0.7 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.