PFOS
2.1× the limitPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid
8.6ng/L
Each block = 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
EPA UCMR 5 · sampled 2024Evidence
City water report · 2026
Is Columbia Tap Water Safe? 2026 Water Quality Report
Short answer: Two PFAS, PFOA and PFOS, are above their federal limits (2024 limits that water systems have until at least 2029 to meet); past health-based violations for Chlorite and E. coli are on record, and the water is soft. City of Columbia serves 354,068 residents.
Listed match
COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) serves Columbia
EPA lists this system for the city. Your water bill or annual water quality report names your actual supplier.
- Source
- Surface water
- Lead service lines
- 0 lead, 895 unknown
Source: EPA SDWIS 2026Q2.
- COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001)This reportSC4010001 · 354,068 served
Your water utility
Also supplies: St. Andrews, Seven Oaks, Dentsville, Forest Acres, Blythewood, Arcadia Lakes
What stands out
Two PFAS above the 2024 federal limit
Each bar is drawn in blocks of the 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024), so the length shows how far above it the result sits.
PFOA
1.7× the limitPerfluorooctanoic acid
6.9ng/L
Each block = 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
EPA UCMR 5 · sampled 2024Evidence
Coverage by group
34 results on record- PFAS (forever chemicals)2 above · 5 detected · 22 not detected
- Metals & lead1 detected
- Disinfection by-products1 above
- Other1 above · 1 detected · 1 not detected
Every detected result
11 detected results, by distance from their limit
COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (EPA PWSID SC4010001) delivers surface water to 354,068 residents. This report reflects 29 individual PFAS result(s) from the source UCMR5 observations and the latest Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile result. The utility's 2025 CCR reports soft water.
- Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)EPA UCMR 5 · 20244.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)8.6ng/LAbove limit
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)EPA UCMR 5 · 20244.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)6.9ng/LAbove limit
- ChloriteEPA SDWIS violations · 20241.0 mg/L1.33MG/LAbove limit
- Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals)EPA UCMR 5 · 202410 ng/L federal MCL (2024)9.2ng/LWithin reference
- Lead (90th percentile)EPA SDWIS (Lead & Copper Rule) · 202115 µg/L federal action level5µg/LWithin reference
- Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)EPA UCMR 5 · 20242,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit)5.2ng/LWithin reference
- Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)EPA UCMR 5 · 2024400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state)5.7ng/LWithin reference
- E. coliEPA SDWIS violations · 2021Federal MCL—Above limit
- Water hardnessUtility CCR · 2025Aesthetic, no federal health limit2.1gpgWithin reference
- Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)EPA UCMR 5 · 2024No federal or state limit; shown for transparency3ng/LDetected · no limit
- Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)EPA UCMR 5 · 2024No federal or state limit; shown for transparency6.8ng/LDetected · no limit
23 other contaminants tested, none detected
- 11Cl-PF3OUdS
- 4:2 FTS
- 6:2 FTS
- 8:2 FTS
- 9Cl-PF3ONS
- ADONA
- NEtFOSAA
- NFDHA
- NMeFOSAA
- PFBA
- PFDA
- PFDoA
- PFEESA
- PFHpS
- PFHxS
- PFMBA
- PFMPA
- PFNA
- PFPeS
- PFTA
- PFTrDA
- PFUnA
- Lithium
Track record
2health-based violations in the last 10 years
From EPA SDWIS. Counted once per contaminant per year, as in the Track record score.
Health-based violations, last 10 years
Every filing is listed; the Track record score counts at most one per contaminant per year.
- Chlorite
- Revised Total Coliform Rule
Resolved
- ChloriteMCL
to Resolved
- Revised Total Coliform RuleMCL
to Resolved
What you can do
Test first, then treat what was found
- 01 · TestTest your own tap
Plumbing inside a home can add lead that the system record can't show. A tap test tells you what reaches your glass.
Certified labHow to test your tap → - 02 · Treat PFASReverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS
PFOS 8.6 ng/L, above the 4 ng/L limit (+6 more PFAS detected)
NSF/ANSI 58 or 53, with PFOA/PFOS/HFPO-DA (GenX)/PFBS/PFHxA/PFHpA/PFPeA named on the listingTreatment for PFAS → - 03 · LeadLead-certified carbon filter, or reverse osmosis
lead 5 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level
NSF/ANSI 53 (lead)Treatment for Lead →
Test your own tap
Screening tells you if something is worth a closer look; a lab result is the number you can act on.
As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Screening: quick check, not lab-grade
Safe Home DIY Lead in Drinking Water Combo Test Kit
Safe Home (EnviroTestKits)
Lead, read as one of three ranges: 0–4, 5–15 or 15+ ppb
- Turnaround: 5 minutes
What it can't tell you: It shows a lead range, not an exact level, and tests nothing else unless you pay extra for the optional lab test.
Lab-certified results
ETR Labs Basic Water Quality Test Kit
ETR Laboratories
50+ substances, including lead, copper, arsenic, nitrate, hardness and coliform bacteria
- Analyzed by Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories (ETR Labs), Leominster, MA · ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ANAB certificate AT-2638
- Turnaround: 2–4 business days after the lab receives it
What it can't tell you: It does not test PFAS, and not every result on the panel falls under the lab's accredited scope.
When your results arrive, read them here →
Commercial
Certified for a concern found here
Each card names which Columbia findings its current certification covers, and which it doesn't.
As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. A product appears here only when a current certification record covers at least one identified concern; every concern stays listed. The retail offer is looked up afterwards and never changes which products appear or their order. Affiliate disclosure.
Under-Sink Filter
Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200)
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals), Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and 2 more
Not suitable for (5)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
- Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
- Renters who can't modify plumbing
Under-Sink Filter
Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M)
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals), Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and 2 more
Not suitable for (5)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
- Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
- Renters who can't modify plumbing
See all 13 products certified for a Columbia concern →
Countertop System
Aquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2)
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals), Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and 2 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Countertop System
Patriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals), Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and 2 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Countertop System
AquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100)
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals), Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and 2 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Countertop System
AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000)
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals), Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and 2 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Under-Sink Filter
Waterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals), Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and 2 more
Not suitable for (5)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
- Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
- Renters who can't modify plumbing
Under-Sink Filter
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals), Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and 2 more
Not suitable for (5)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
- Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
- Renters who can't modify plumbing
Refrigerator Filter
Whirlpool Filter 3 Refrigerator Water Filter (WHR3RXD1)
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals), Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and 2 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Water Pitcher
Brita Elite Water Filter Pitcher
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: PFOA, PFOS, Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals) and 4 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Water Pitcher
Culligan ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher (ZEROP10)
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: PFOA, PFOS, Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals) and 4 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Faucet Attachment
PUR Plus Faucet Filter (FM2500V)
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: PFOA, PFOS, Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals) and 4 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Under-Sink Filter
Frizzlife SP99 Under-Sink Filter
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: PFOA, PFOS, Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals) and 4 more
Not suitable for (4)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
- Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is Columbia tap water safe to drink?
PurityMap does not give a safe/unsafe verdict; it shows what the public records measured. For Columbia, PFOS 8.6 ng/L and PFOA 6.9 ng/L were measured above the 4 ng/L federal limit in EPA's 2024 testing; the lead 90th-percentile result was 5 µg/L against the 15 µg/L action level; 2 health-based violations are on record (Chlorite and E. coli). COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (PWSID SC4010001) has a Purity Score of 48/100 (confidence: moderate), assessed at the water-system level and computed only from contaminants that were measured. Water can change in your own pipes, so a certified test is the only way to know what comes out of your tap.
Who provides tap water in Columbia?
COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (PWS ID SC4010001) is the public water system on record for Columbia, South Carolina, serving about 354,068 people. Confirm the utility on your water bill before acting on a specific finding.
Where does Columbia get its drinking water?
Surface water (primary source of record in EPA SDWIS).
Are PFAS "forever chemicals" in Columbia's water?
Yes. In EPA's UCMR 5 testing (2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23), PFOS was measured at 8.6 ng/L against a 4 ng/L federal limit and PFOA was measured at 6.9 ng/L against a 4 ng/L federal limit. HFPO-DA (GenX) (9.2 ng/L, below the 10 ng/L federal limit), PFBS (5.2 ng/L, below the 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory) and PFHxA (5.7 ng/L, below the 400,000 ng/L state limit) were also detected. PFHpA (3 ng/L) and PFPeA (6.8 ng/L) were also detected; they have no federal or state limit. Reverse osmosis and filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA/PFOS reduce them at the tap.
Is there lead in Columbia's tap water?
COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001)'s most recent lead 90th-percentile result (2021–2023) was 5 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level. That figure comes from sampled homes; lead usually enters from a building's own pipes and fixtures, so only a test at your tap tells you what you drink.
Has Columbia's water system had violations?
The federal SDWIS record lists 2 health-based violations for COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) within about the last ten years: Chlorite (2024) and E. coli (2021). The findings above show each one's status.
What does the latest Columbia water report show?
PurityMap's current record for Columbia holds 34 findings: 4 above a reference, 5 detected within the reference, 2 detected with no limit and 23 not detected. Each finding links to its dated public record; a parameter that was never monitored is shown as pending, not as a pass.
Is Columbia's water hard?
Columbia's water is recorded as 2.1 gpg, soft. Hardness is an aesthetic and plumbing characteristic, not a health-based limit.
Follow this water
Follow Columbia's water
One email when a new sampling round is published, a result moves above or below its reference, or the system's score changes.
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Sources and dataAll 34 records and their sourcesEPA UCMR 5 · EPA SDWIS (Lead & Copper Rule) · Utility CCR · EPA SDWIS violations
| Contaminant | Result | Benchmark | Status | Sampled | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) | 8.6 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Above a historical reference; current applicability unverified | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | 6.9 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Above a historical reference; current applicability unverified | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Chlorite | 1.33 MG/L | 1.0 mg/L | Above the listed reference | 2024 | EPA SDWIS Violations & Enforcement: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| E. coli | = | Federal MCL | Above the listed reference | 2021 | EPA SDWIS Violations & Enforcement: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals) | 9.2 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Within a historical reference; current applicability unverified | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 5 µg/L | 15 µg/L federal action level | Below the listed reference | 2021–2023 monitoring period | Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) | 5.2 ng/L | 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit | Within the referenced health-based guidance value | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) | 5.7 ng/L | 400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state) | Within a historical reference; current applicability unverified | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Water hardness | 2.1 gpg | Aesthetic, no federal health limit | Within a secondary/aesthetic reference | 2025 | City of Columbia, South Carolina 2025 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) | 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Detected, no limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | 6.8 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Detected, no limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
23 other contaminants tested — none detected
| Contaminant | Result | Benchmark | Status | Sampled | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| 9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS) | < 2 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Lithium | < 9 µg/L | 10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) | < 6 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA) | < 20 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA) | < 4 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) | < 3 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) | < 4 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS) | < 4 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) | < 8 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) | < 7 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
| Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) | < 2 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001) |
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)
- Result
- 8.6 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
- Status
- Above a historical reference; current applicability unverified
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
- Result
- 6.9 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
- Status
- Above a historical reference; current applicability unverified
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
- Result
- 1.33 MG/L
- Benchmark
- 1.0 mg/L
- Status
- Above the listed reference
- Sampled
- 2024
- Result
- =
- Benchmark
- Federal MCL
- Status
- Above the listed reference
- Sampled
- 2021
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals)
- Result
- 9.2 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
- Status
- Within a historical reference; current applicability unverified
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
- Result
- 5 µg/L
- Benchmark
- 15 µg/L federal action level
- Status
- Below the listed reference
- Sampled
- 2021–2023 monitoring period
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)
- Result
- 5.2 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit
- Status
- Within the referenced health-based guidance value
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)
- Result
- 5.7 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state)
- Status
- Within a historical reference; current applicability unverified
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
- Result
- 2.1 gpg
- Benchmark
- Aesthetic, no federal health limit
- Status
- Within a secondary/aesthetic reference
- Sampled
- 2025
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)
- Result
- 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Detected, no limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)
- Result
- 6.8 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Detected, no limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
23 other contaminants tested — none detected
11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)
- Result
- < 5 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS)
- Result
- < 5 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)
- Result
- < 5 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)
- Result
- < 2 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
- Result
- < 9 µg/L
- Benchmark
- 10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)
- Result
- < 5 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)
- Result
- < 6 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)
- Result
- < 20 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)
- Result
- < 4 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
- Result
- < 5 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
- Result
- < 4 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)
- Result
- < 4 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)
- Result
- < 8 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)
- Result
- < 7 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)
- Result
- < 2 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Status
- Not detected above the reporting limit
- Sampled
- 2024-12-19 to 2025-09-23
Every value is the published result from the cited public record. A reporting limit is the lowest level the method could reliably quantify; a non-detect is not a guarantee of zero.
UCMR5 Analytical Results
UCMR5 Analytical Results: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001)
US EPA
State SDWIS Compliance Record
Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001)
US EPA SDWIS
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
City of Columbia, South Carolina 2025 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
City of Columbia, South Carolina
State SDWIS Compliance Record
EPA SDWIS Violations & Enforcement: COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (SC4010001)
US EPA SDWIS
Methodology: how we analyze water. Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the PurityMap Editorial Team before publication.
Something off with your water's smell, color or taste?
Start with the hot-or-cold tap check. Where City of Columbia reported something related, it's shown below.
- Rotten-egg smell
- Cloudy or milky water
- Chlorine smell
- Brown or yellow water
- Metallic taste
Lead at City of Columbia: 5 µg/L (90th percentile, 2021–2023 monitoring period). Lead has no taste, so a taste neither shows nor rules it out.
ZIP codes in Columbia
A ZIP code is a postal area, not a water service area. Your water bill names your supplier.