Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Greenville?
Yes, Greenville's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Greenville has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page, the city's water provider website, or Greenville's local Twitter account.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Greenville's water utility, Greenville Water (2310001), had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. This assessment is based on the Greenville Water (2310001) water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Greenville Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Greenville tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Greenville's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Greenville Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Greenville Water (2310001) for Greenville in South Carolina. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
Is there Lead in Greenville Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Greenville water system, Greenville Water (2310001), between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0 mg/L of lead in Greenville water. This is 0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Greenville contained more lead.
While Greenville water testing may have found 0.0 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Greenville Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - AASF Upstate - near Greenville with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Greenville has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Greenville Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Mail: | PO BOX 687 GREENVILLE, SC, 29602 |
Existing customers can login to their Greenville Water (2310001) account to pay their Greenville water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Greenville Water (2310001) bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Greenville water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Greenville water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Greenville means you will often need to put the water in your name with Greenville Water (2310001). In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Greenville means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Greenville Water (2310001). In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.75 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Greenville, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Greenville Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Greenville's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
HOW IS MY WATER TREATED?
All water supplied to you is thoroughly treated and disinfected. The Adkins Treatment Plant, a conventional filtration plant with
a current capacity of 90 million gallons per day (MGD), draws water from Lake Keowee. This plant uses coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection to treat the water. Alum is used in the coagulation step along with small amounts of sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment. Chlorine combined with ammonia, known as chloramines, is used
for disinfection to protect against
The Stovall Treatment Plant provides filtration for all water drawn from the Table Rock and North Saluda Reservoirs. This 75 MGD plant is one of the largest in the United States to use Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) in the treatment process. The Stovall Plant uses an innovative flotation process for particle removal rather than sedimentation. The remaining processes and chemicals used for water treatment are similar to those at the Adkins Treatment Plant.
All treatment plants are maintained and monitored by State Certified Environmental Systems Operators who are thoroughly trained to perform routine chemical and physical testing for treatment control.
PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY DRINKING WATER
Greenville Water is pleased to present our 2020 Water Quality Report. Each year, the team at Greenville Water works diligently to protect our watersheds, ensure our treatment practices are highly effective, and provide you, our customers, with safe drinking water. Once again, we are happy to report that Greenville Water meets all of the strict drinking water standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC). In order to protect its customers, Greenville Water and SCDHEC collected over 24,000 samples and performed more than 98,000 tests during 2020. Greenville Water ensures your water quality by testing water samples collected during the treatment process and as the water is delivered to customers through approximately 3,000 miles of pipeline. The 2020 Water Quality Report indicates that our water is safe to drink.
WHERE DOES MY DRINKING WATER COME FROM?
Greenville Water draws water from three sources: Table Rock Reservoir, North Saluda Reservoir and Lake Keowee. Table Rock and North Saluda Reservoirs are both located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Greenville County. Greenville Water owns 100 percent of both watersheds. Greenville Water regularly patrols and carefully maintains these uninhabited, pristine lands. The properties are further protected by a Conservation Easement with The Nature Conservancy. Lake Keowee is owned by Duke Energy. In 2013, Greenville Water obtained two South Carolina Surface Water Withdrawal permits, one for The Stovall Treatment Plant and one forThe Adkins Treatment Plant. The Stovall Treatment Plant has two supply sources, Table Rock Reservoir (2,077 million gallons per month [MGM]) and North Saluda Reservoir (1,860 MGM). The Adkins Treatment Plant has one supply source, Lake Keowee (4,650 MGM).
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IS IMPORTANT
To raise awareness about the ways in which water pollution can impact your drinking water, SCDHEC has identified potential sources of contamination for each drinking water source in the state. More information on source water assessment can be found at:
PRIMARY DRINKING WATER STANDARDS - REGULATED SUBSTANCES DETECTED IN 2020
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
|
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Highest |
Possible |
|
|
Parameter |
Units |
MCL |
MCLG |
Range |
Level |
Violation |
||
Sources |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
Detected |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Fluoride |
ppm |
4 |
4 |
|
|
Drinking water |
|
|
Stovall Plant |
|
|
|
NA |
0.67* |
additive |
NO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fluoride added during |
|
|
Adkins Plant |
|
|
|
NA |
0.62* |
NO |
||
|
|
|
treatment to prevent |
|||||
Distribution System |
|
|
|
Avg.=0.60 |
tooth decay |
NO |
||
Nitrate/Nitrite (as nitrogen) |
ppm |
10 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
Stovall Plant |
|
|
|
NA |
0.021* |
Erosion of natural |
NO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
deposits; fertilizer |
|
|
Adkins Plant |
|
|
|
NA |
0.063* |
NO |
||
|
|
|
runoff, |
|||||
Distribution System |
|
|
|
Avg.=0.10 |
NO |
|||
|
|
|
of nitrification |
*Results obtained by SCDHEC. Average fluoride levels detected by Greenville Water’s certified laboratory during 2020 were 0.63 ppm (Stovall) and 0.68 ppm (Adkins).//t
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
TOC (Total Organic Carbon) |
Average Percent |
Range |
Possible Sources |
Violation |
|
Removal |
|||||
|
|
|
|
||
Stovall Plant (samples collected monthly) |
TT: 27% |
Occurs naturally in the environment |
NO* |
||
Adkins Plant (samples collected monthly) |
TT: 15% |
NO* |
|||
|
*Due to low raw water TOC levels, Adkins and Stovall plants remain in compliance even when the percent removal is less than the required 35%.
DISINFECTANTS AND |
Units |
MCL |
MCLG |
Range |
Average |
Possible Sources |
Violation |
|
BYPRODUCTS |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Chloramine |
ppm |
MRDL=4 |
MRDLG=4 |
2.18 |
Water disinfectant |
NO |
||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DISINFECTANTS AND |
Units |
MCL |
MCLG |
Range |
Maximum |
Possible Sources |
Violation |
|
BYPRODUCTS |
Location |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Total Trihalomethanes |
ppb |
80 |
0 |
LRAA = |
NO |
|||
12.10 |
disinfection |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Total Haloacetic Acids |
ppb |
60 |
0 |
LRAA = |
NO |
|||
11.73 |
disinfection |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
As part of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, Greenville Water tested the finished water at both the Adkins and Stovall Water Treatment Plants for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in 2014 and none were detected. As a follow up, in March of 2019 Greenville Water again tested for 39 PFAS compounds at our Table Rock and North Saluda Reservoirs and at Lake Keowee and none of the substances were detected.
NEED WATER FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS?
GREENVILLE WATER HAS THE SOLUTION!
Greenville Water provides drinking water for outdoor community events held in our service area. We do this as a public service to support the community and share information about tap water.
The Water Buffalo is designed to dispense 400 gallons of clean, refreshing tap water into cups or reusable bottles. It is an environmentally friendly way to serve water at your event!
Just as important, we can also provide Hand Wash Stations for outdoor events. Our staff will deliver the stations, fill them with water
and stock the station with paper towels and soap. We have six stations available.
To view guidelines and reserve the Water Buffalo and/or Hand Wash Stations for your event, please visit https://www.greenvillewater.com/water-
MICROBIAL AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Parameter |
Units |
MCL |
Results |
Possible Sources |
Violation |
|
|
% positive per |
Less than 5% |
0.33% |
Common in the |
|
|
Total Coliform |
positive per |
environment; human |
NO |
|||
month |
maximum |
|||||
|
month |
and animal waste |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|||
Turbidity |
Units |
MCL |
Results |
Possible Sources |
Violation |
|
Stovall Plant |
NTU |
95% of samples |
100% samples < 0.3 |
Soil Runoff |
NO |
|
< 0.3 |
Maximum = 0.07 |
Turbidity is a measure of |
||||
|
|
Average = 0.04 |
|
|||
|
|
|
water clarity and a good |
|
||
|
|
95% of samples |
100% samples < 0.3 |
indicator that the treatment |
|
|
Adkins Plant |
NTU |
process is removing |
NO |
|||
Maximum = 0.08 |
||||||
|
|
< 0.3 |
Average= 0.04 |
tiny particles. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution System |
NTU |
NA |
Average = 0.13 |
|
NA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LEAD AND COPPER RULE (2018 RESULTS)
|
|
Action Level |
90th |
Sample Sites |
Possible |
|
|
Parameter |
Units |
Percentile |
Exceeding |
Violation |
|||
(AL) |
Sources |
||||||
|
|
Value |
Action Level |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Lead - Customer’s |
ppb |
15 |
0.0 |
1* |
Corrosion of |
NO |
|
Plumbing |
household plumbing |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Copper - Customer’s |
ppm |
1.3 |
0.088 |
0 |
Corrosion of |
NO |
|
Plumbing |
household plumbing |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
Lead & Copper: If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Greenville Water is responsible for providing
*A repeat sample collected at this site had no lead detected.
TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
- (Treatment Technique): A required process intended
to reduce the level of
a contaminant in drinking water.
SU (Standard Units): Unit of measure to indicate water acid/base scale (pH).
AL (Action Level): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow. ppm (parts per million): This is the same as milligrams per liter, or one penny out of $10,000.
ppb (parts per billion): This is the same as micrograms per liter, or one penny out of $10,000,000.
NA (Not Applicable): Does not apply. Ranges are not applicable for sampling conducted by SCDHEC. ND (Not Detected): Not detected or below detection limits.
NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units): Units of measure to indicate water clarity.
MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water without an unacceptable possibility of adverse health effects. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary
for the control of microbial contaminants.
MRDLG (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do
not reflect the benefits of the use of the disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
LRAA (Locational Running Annual Average): The highest average concentration for 4 consecutive quarters at all sampling locations. Turbidity: Measure of water clarity and filtration effectiveness.
GREENVILLE WATER
Greenville Water provides service to more than 500,000 residents of the Upstate region of South Carolina. Recognizing that water service is critical to the health and
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE EPA
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.
Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
- Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.
- Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
Inadequately treated water may contain
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons, such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium or other microbial contaminants are also available from the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline
WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?
If you would like more information about water treatment techniques or about our water quality, contact Greenville Water’s Laboratory at (864)
COMMISSIONERS OF
PUBLIC WORKS
Phillip A. Kilgore - Chair
James W. Bannister - Vice Chair
Debra M. Sofield - Commissioner
Knox White - Mayor, City of Greenville;
Wil Brasington - Councilman,
City of Greenville;
CONTACT US
David H. Bereskin, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
-
241-6004 bereskind@greenvillewater.com
Jeff Boss
Chief Operating Officer
-
241-6005 jboss@greenvillewater.com
Jeff Phillips
Director of Water Resources
-
241-7833 jphillips@greenvillewater.com
Customer Service
(864)
Engineering
(864)
Laboratory
(864)
COMMISSION MEETINGS
Unless otherwise noted, Greenville Water Commission meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 8:15 a.m. Meeting agendas, minutes and schedule are posted online at www.greenvillewater.com.
Contaminants
Greenville Water System
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 328678
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 15
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Bromodichloromethane
- Chloroform
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Trichloroacetic acid
Other Detected Contaminants
- 4-Androstene-3%2C17-dione
- Chlorate
- Dibromoacetic acid
- Dibromochloromethane
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Nitrate
- Strontium
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.