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 |
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.