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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008) • Updated October 2026
Grade C — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008) has a mixed record — read the reasons below; the deductions come from real EPA violations, lead results or PFAS detections, not from a template.
North Charleston, SC tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records, mainly because of PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
North Charleston, SC tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records, mainly because of PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008)'s most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31) was 0.5 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2023-11-20 to 2026-06-01) detected PFBS, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA, with PFOA or PFOS at or above the 4 ppt federal MCL. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008) has 2 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 2 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008) reports purchased surface water as its primary source and serves about 26,536 people (EPA PWSID SC1820008).
We recommend one. Reverse osmosis or a PFAS-certified carbon filter addresses the PFAS result.
Compare filter options for your North Charleston tap water
PFOA or PFOS was measured at or above EPA's 4 ppt limit in North Charleston's UCMR5 sampling.
See the filters matched to North Charleston's EPA results → — which certification actually removes what was found here, and what it does not touch.
Unsure which contaminants to treat? Compare home kits and certified lab testing before buying.
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DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008) · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-10-16
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years. The 2 violations on file in that window are monitoring or reporting paperwork issues, not measured contaminant exceedances.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)TTHM | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-10-01 → 2022-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2022-12-31 |
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-10-01 → 2022-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2022-12-31 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008)
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31), 90% of the homes DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008) sampled had lead at or below 0.5 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-01-01 → 2024-12-31 | 0.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2019-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | 0.57 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2018-01-01 → 2018-12-31 | 2.4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2017-01-01 → 2017-12-31 | 1 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2016-07-01 → 2016-12-31 | 0.76 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2016-01-01 → 2016-06-30 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2011-01-01 → 2013-12-31 | 24 ppb | Above the 15 ppb action level |
| 2008-01-01 → 2010-12-31 | 4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2005-01-01 → 2007-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2002-01-01 → 2004-12-31 | 1 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1999-01-01 → 2001-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1998-01-01 → 1998-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2023-11-20 to 2026-06-01 · 116 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
PFOA and PFOS measured at or above EPA's legal limit in at least one sample. Utilities have until 2029 (2031 under EPA's proposed extension) to comply with the 2024 PFAS rule, so a result above the MCL today is not yet a violation — but it is the number that matters for your health.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 4 / 4 | 6.4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 4 / 4 | 7.4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 4 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 4 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 4 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 4 / 4 | 4.9 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFHxA | 4 / 4 | 5.1 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFPeA | 4 / 4 | 6 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them → · Best filters for PFAS →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008) · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008) reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Haloacetic acids (HAA5) is flagged below; the status column explains why. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 124123 detects | 11.118 µg/L | 23.48 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 124123 detects | 17.363 µg/L | 68.04 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 2 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Lead (tap samples) | 14946 detects | 1.589 µg/L | 74 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 149113 detects | 30.846 µg/L | 1000 µg/L | 1300 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving North Charleston will follow up - no obligation.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit North Charleston homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your North Charleston faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for North Charleston households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
What North Charleston residents measured at their own tap. All reader results →
Reader submissions are unverified and shown separately from EPA data. They reflect one tap on one day, not the utility's compliance record.
No reader results for North Charleston yet - yours would be the first. A hardness or TDS number from a $10 strip kit is enough to start the map.
Help build the first reader-sourced water map. Enter whatever your test strip, TDS pen or lab report shows - one number is enough.
North Charleston ranks #59 of 66 graded South Carolina cities.
Deep-dive guides for the specific contaminants EPA data flagged in North Charleston's water, with removal options for each.
North Charleston, SC tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records, mainly because of PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008)'s most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31) was 0.5 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2023-11-20 to 2026-06-01) detected PFBS, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA, with PFOA or PFOS at or above the 4 ppt federal MCL. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008) has 2 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 2 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008) reports purchased surface water as its primary source and serves about 26,536 people (EPA PWSID SC1820008).
We recommend one. Reverse osmosis or a PFAS-certified carbon filter addresses the PFAS result.
PFOA or PFOS was measured at or above EPA's 4 ppt limit in North Charleston's UCMR5 sampling.
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Reverse osmosis is the most thorough filtration class against PFAS — browse Waterdrop RO systems and check each model’s own tested claims.
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Based on contaminants detected in your water, these resources may be helpful:
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