Water Hardness in South Carolina Cities

Water Hardness in South Carolina Cities

Water hardness in South Carolina, characterized by the amount of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium, can significantly differ among various cities across the state due to its varied geological landscapes. Situated on the East Coast of the U.S., South Carolina’s water hardness levels reflect the geological diversity within the state.

Across South Carolina, water hardness can range from moderately soft to very hard, depending on the geological makeup of the area and the source of the water supply. For example, coastal areas often have softer water due to the influence of river basins and the Atlantic Coastal Plain’s sedimentary deposits, while regions in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge areas may experience harder water due to the higher mineral content from metamorphic and igneous rock formations.

The variation in water hardness throughout South Carolina influences not only the taste and aesthetics of the water but also the efficiency of soaps and detergents, plumbing maintenance, and the lifespan of appliances that utilize water. Given the state’s considerable geological diversity, water hardness is not uniform, highlighting the need for localized water treatment solutions and ongoing monitoring of water quality.

In the provided data, the water hardness levels show substantial variations across different cities in South Carolina. Among the cities for which data is reported, the highest water hardness level is recorded in Hanahan with a hardness of 56.0 ppm, 3.3 gpg. Conversely, the city with the lowest recorded water hardness level is Pendleton, reporting a hardness of 12.5 ppm, 0.7 gpg.

City Hardness ppm (mg/L) Hardness gpg Information Source Notes
Charleston 54.0 3.2 Link
Columbia 36.0 2.1 Link
North Charleston 54.0 3.2 Link
Mount Pleasant n/a n/a Link
Rock Hill 29.0 1.7 Link
Greenville n/a n/a Link
Summerville 23.0 1.3 Link
Goose Creek 22.0 1.3 Link
Sumter n/a n/a Link
Florence n/a n/a Link
Greer 11.0 0.6 Link
Spartanburg n/a n/a Link
Hilton Head Island n/a n/a Link
Myrtle Beach n/a n/a Link
Bluffton n/a n/a Link
Aiken n/a n/a Link
Anderson 13.7 0.8 Link
Fort Mill n/a n/a Link
Mauldin n/a n/a Link Covered by Greenville.
Simpsonville n/a n/a Link Purchases from Greenville per EPA CCR search.
North Augusta n/a n/a Link
Lexington n/a n/a Link
Easley n/a n/a Link
Conway n/a n/a Link
Greenwood 38.0 2.2 Link They treat water for hardness.
Hanahan 56.0 3.3 Link
North Myrtle Beach n/a n/a Link
Clemson 15.5 0.9 Link
West Columbia n/a n/a Link
Cayce n/a n/a Link
Moncks Corner 23.0 1.3 Link
Tega Cay 24.5 1.4 Link
Port Royal n/a n/a Link
Beaufort n/a n/a Link
Orangeburg n/a n/a Link
Gaffney n/a n/a Link
Irmo n/a n/a Link Neither Hopkins nor Pond system reports list hardness.
James Island 54.0 3.2 Link Covered by Charleston.
Fountain Inn n/a n/a Link Covered by Greenville.
Forest Acres 36.0 2.1 Link Covered by Columbia.
Newberry n/a n/a Link
Laurens n/a n/a Link Purchases from Greenville and Clinton.
Seneca n/a n/a Link
Hardeeville n/a n/a Link
York n/a n/a Link
Lancaster n/a n/a Link
Georgetown n/a n/a Link
Union n/a n/a Link
Camden n/a n/a Link
Travelers Rest n/a n/a Link
Clinton n/a n/a Link
Hartsville n/a n/a Link
Bennettsville n/a n/a Link
Clover n/a n/a Link
Lyman 14.9 0.9 Link
Marion n/a n/a Link
Dillon n/a n/a Link
Darlington n/a n/a Link
Lake City n/a n/a Link
Walterboro n/a n/a Link
Hollywood 54.0 3.2 Link Uses Charleston Water as utility.
Blythewood 36.0 2.1 Link Uses Columbia and Winnsboro water, Winnsboro cuts off Blythewood during droughts so used Columbia’s number.
Central n/a n/a Link
Batesburg-Leesville n/a n/a Link
Chester n/a n/a Link
Cheraw n/a n/a Link
Abbeville n/a n/a Link
Barnwell n/a n/a Link
Belton n/a n/a Link
Isle of Palms n/a n/a Link
Woodruff n/a n/a Link
Surfside Beach n/a n/a Link
Duncan 14.9 0.9 Link
Williamston 13.7 0.8 Link Purchases from Anderson.
Walhalla n/a n/a Link
Mullins n/a n/a Link
Manning n/a n/a Link
Honea Path n/a n/a Link
Ridgeland n/a n/a Link
Pendleton 12.5 0.7 Link
Wellford 14.9 0.9 Link
Pickens n/a n/a Link
Liberty n/a n/a Link
Kingstree n/a n/a Link
Winnsboro n/a n/a Link
Burnettown n/a n/a Link Doesn’t appear to have online CCR. Only 430 customers.
Denmark n/a n/a Link
Saluda n/a n/a Link
Inman n/a n/a Link
Bamberg n/a n/a Link
Bishopville n/a n/a Link
Williston n/a n/a Link
Hampton n/a n/a Link
Springdale 36.0 2.1 Link Covered under Columbia.
Allendale n/a n/a Link
Loris n/a n/a Link Gets from Myrtle Beach.
Ravenel 54.0 3.2 Link Covered by Charleston.
Andrews n/a n/a Link
Landrum n/a n/a Link
Pageland n/a n/a Link
Top 100 South Carolina cities by population and their reported water hardness
ppm = Parts Per Million
mg/L = Milligrams Per Liter
gpg = Grains Per Gallon

Hard water can cause issues such as mineral buildup in plumbing and appliances, reduce the efficacy of soaps and detergents, and affect the taste of the water. A tried and true solution is the use of a water softener. A water softener, like the ones from DROP, could be a worthwhile investment.

These devices work by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness with sodium ions, resulting in softer water. With innovative features, easy installation, and efficient operation, DROP smart water softeners provide a solution to hard water issues, extending the lifespan of appliances, improving water taste, enhancing soap effectiveness, reducing scale build-up, and increasing the overall water efficiency in your home.

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