We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in South Carolina to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Graniteville, South Carolina
Graniteville has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Graniteville water report →Chapin, South Carolina
Chapin has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Chapin water report →Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Fort Jackson has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Fort Jackson water report →Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 29 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Columbia water report →Blacksburg, South Carolina
Blacksburg has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Blacksburg water report →Gaffney, South Carolina
Gaffney has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Gaffney water report →Carlisle, South Carolina
Carlisle has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Carlisle water report →Woodruff, South Carolina
Woodruff has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Woodruff water report →Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Pawleys Island has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Pawleys Island water report →Union, South Carolina
Union has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Union water report →Jonesville, South Carolina
Jonesville has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Jonesville water report →Ware Shoals, South Carolina
Ware Shoals has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ware Shoals water report →Cayce, South Carolina
Cayce has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Cayce water report →Chester, South Carolina
Chester has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Chester water report →Great Falls, South Carolina
Great Falls has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Great Falls water report →Loris, South Carolina
Loris has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Loris water report →Conway, South Carolina
Conway has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 32 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Conway water report →Laurens, South Carolina
Laurens has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Laurens water report →North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
North Myrtle Beach has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full North Myrtle Beach water report →Gray Court, South Carolina
Gray Court has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Gray Court water report →Greenwood, South Carolina
Greenwood has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Greenwood water report →Ninety Six, South Carolina
Ninety Six has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ninety Six water report →Rock Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Rock Hill water report →Fort Mill, South Carolina
Fort Mill has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Fort Mill water report →Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Aiken water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 373 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 14 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 359 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graniteville | SC | 31 | 16 | 0 | 15,282 |
| 2 | Chapin | SC | 31 | 16 | 0 | 3,655 |
| 3 | Fort Jackson | SC | 30 | 16 | 2 | 32,391 |
| 4 | Columbia | SC | 29 | 16 | 0 | 319,500 |
| 5 | Blacksburg | SC | 28 | 16 | 2 | 3,822 |
| 6 | Gaffney | SC | 27 | 16 | 1 | 15,841 |
| 7 | Carlisle | SC | 27 | 16 | 1 | 3,131 |
| 8 | Woodruff | SC | 26 | 16 | 1 | 25,923 |
| 9 | Pawleys Island | SC | 27 | 15 | 0 | 38,364 |
| 10 | Union | SC | 27 | 15 | 1 | 11,757 |
| 11 | Jonesville | SC | 27 | 15 | 1 | 2,837 |
| 12 | Ware Shoals | SC | 25 | 15 | 2 | 2,363 |
| 13 | Cayce | SC | 24 | 15 | 0 | 19,269 |
| 14 | Chester | SC | 24 | 15 | 0 | 12,719 |
| 15 | Great Falls | SC | 24 | 15 | 0 | 1,828 |
| 16 | Loris | SC | 33 | 14 | 0 | 3,613 |
| 17 | Conway | SC | 32 | 14 | 0 | 172,016 |
| 18 | Laurens | SC | 31 | 14 | 1 | 36,314 |
| 19 | North Myrtle Beach | SC | 30 | 14 | 1 | 29,872 |
| 20 | Gray Court | SC | 28 | 14 | 1 | 1,069 |
| 21 | Greenwood | SC | 25 | 14 | 0 | 47,947 |
| 22 | Ninety Six | SC | 25 | 14 | 0 | 2,880 |
| 23 | Rock Hill | SC | 24 | 14 | 0 | 74,377 |
| 24 | Fort Mill | SC | 24 | 14 | 0 | 16,943 |
| 25 | Aiken | SC | 23 | 14 | 0 | 42,286 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in South Carolina?
Based on 2026 data, Graniteville, SC has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
