Where does my drinking water come from?

• Your drinking water comes from either groundwater (wells) or surface water sources (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
• In South Carolina, about 80% of public water systems use surface water as their source of drinking water and about 20% use groundwater.
• To find the source of your drinking water, contact your water supplier or read your Water Quality Report provided by your water supplier every year.
• For more information on South Carolina's water supply usage, see SC Water Use Report .

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Who is responsible for drinking water quality?     

• DHEC regulates all public water systems (PWS) and is responsible for ensuring that these public water systems are in compliance with all state and federal regulations .
• Local municipal, county, and other government entities, along with private water suppliers, are directly responsible for the quality of water that flows to your faucet.
• Water systems test and treat their water, maintain the distribution systems that deliver water to consumers, and report on their water quality results to DHEC.
• States and EPA provide technical assistance to water suppliers and can take legal action against systems that fail to provide water that meets state and federal standards.
• If you get your drinking water from an individual residential well, you are not subject to the state and federal regulations.
• The owner of a residential well is responsible for the quality of the water.
• If you are concerned about the quality of your well water,
  • Visit DHEC's Testing Your Drinking Water Web page or
  • Contact DHEC's Residential Well Program for more information.

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Why does my drinking water taste or smell funny?

• Although bad tasting or bad smelling water can be offensive to consumers, in most cases it is not considered to be a public health concern.
• Your drinking water may have an "off taste" if it's been sitting in the pipes for too long.
  • Flushing out the pipes in your home by turning on all the faucets at the same time for a few minutes may get rid of the off taste.

What can I do about it?

• First, determine if the concern is coming from your household plumbing or the water supplier.
• Ask your neighbors if they are having a similar issue.
• You may contact your water supplier or local EA Regional Office.
• You may also want to consider using certified water filters or treatment units.
• The National Sanitation Foundation provides a list of certified units.

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What are the most common concerns in drinking water?

• Chlorine or chemical taste or smell
  • Can be caused by chlorine that is added to the water by your public water supplier
  • May be caused by the interaction of chlorine with a build-up of organic matter in your household plumbing.
• Sulfur or rotten egg smell
  • Usually caused by bacteria growing in your sink drain or water heater.
  • In some cases is caused by naturally occurring hydrogen sulfide.
• Musty, moldy, earthy taste or smell
  • Usually caused by bacteria growing in a sink's drain or from fungi
  • Can also be algae or fungi that naturally grow in surface water sources.
• Metallic taste
  • Can be caused by metals such as iron.

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How do I disinfect my drinking water in the event of an emergency?

• In the event of an emergency, you may need to disinfect (kill germs) small quantities of drinking water.
• Boiling is a very effective means of disinfecting drinking water.
• Chemical disinfection of small quantities of water for drinking is more convenient and if done correctly, is as effective as boiling.
• For information on how to disinfect your water, visit EPA's Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water Web Site .

 

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Should I be concerned about lead in my drinking water?

• Lead is found almost everywhere: food, paint, dust, soil, air, and even some drinking water.
• Children and pregnant women are most susceptible to health risks from lead in drinking water.
• Lead is rarely in drinking water when it leaves the treatment plant; however, it can leach into the water from old plumbing.

 

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Should I be concerned about copper in my drinking water ?

• Copper is a metal that is commonly used in household plumbing and pipes.
• Like lead, copper may leach into your drinking water from copper pipes and copper-containing fixtures in older plumbing.
• The most noticeable effect produced by copper is a blue-green stain on bathroom fixtures such as tubs and sinks.
• Learn more about copper in drinking water.

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Should I be concerned about radium in my drinking water?

• Radium is a radioactive element, which can occur naturally in soil and rocks.
• Radium is usually not an issue in surface water sources, but can affect some groundwater sources due to local geology.
• Learn more about radium in drinking water.

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Who do I contact?

• For information on the quality of your drinking water, read your Water Quality Report from your water supplier or contact them directly.
  • Your water supplier will have their contact information on your water bill.
• If you are concerned about the water quality of your private well, contact DHEC's Residential Well Program for more information.
• You can also call your local DHEC regional office .

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Where can I find more information on my drinking water?

• Every year your water utility publishes a report on the quality of your drinking water (also known as a Consumer Confidence Report ).
• For links to other state's local water quality information , visit EPA's Local Drinking Water Web site.
• For information on drinking water contaminants and their health effects , visit EPA's Drinking Water and Health Web site.
• For additional questions on drinking water, see EPA's Frequently Asked Questions .
• Visit DHEC's Drinking Water Resources Web page, for additional resources and links.