Dorchester County, South Carolina
12 ZIP codes · Avg score 80/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-04
Within Dorchester County, all 12 tracked ZIP codes show above-average drinking water safety — violations are infrequent and typically minor.
How Dorchester County Compares
How Dorchester County Compares
Dorchester County scores 2 points above the South Carolina state average (78/100) and 12 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Dorchester County, South Carolina
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 12.8 (asthma 9.6%, diabetes 13.1%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,933, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.24% avg pipe failure probability
39.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,933
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
79,833 housing units in Dorchester County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Dorchester County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Dorchester County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Dorchester County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Dorchester County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DCWS ASHLEY PHOSPHATE (SC1820008) | 26,076 | 16 |
| 2 | Summerville Cpw (sc1810003) | 81,750 | 16 |
| 3 | Dcws Southern Palms (sc1850011) | 1,494 | 16 |
| 4 | Dcwa Knightsville (1820001) | 40,141 | 15 |
| 5 | Dcws/clay Field Drive (sc1850014) | 1,648 | 15 |
16 total water systems serve Dorchester County.
All ZIP Codes in Dorchester County
12 ZIP codes tracked in Dorchester County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29471 | Reevesville | 95 | A | 0 | $116K |
| 2 | 29484 | Summerville | 94 | A | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 3 | 29448 | Harleyville | 91 | A | 4 (4 health) | $186K |
| 4 | 29472 | Ridgeville | 85 | A | 0 | $246K |
| 5 | 29420 | North Charleston | 83 | B | 1 | $284K |
| 6 | 29483 | Summerville | 81 | B | 5 (4 health) | $303K |
| 7 | 29456 | Ladson | 80 | B | 0 | $244K |
| 8 | 29485 | Summerville | 76 | B | 5 (4 health) | $311K |
| 9 | 29404 | Charleston Afb | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 10 | 29477 | Saint George | 73 | B | 0 | $75K |
| 11 | 29433 | Canadys | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 12 | 29447 | Grover | 66 | C | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Dorchester County
While many sites publish identical guide lists across every county they cover, the selection here changes by location — driven by the EPA, NSF, FEMA, and CDC datasets that describe the actual conditions documented for this jurisdiction in the federal record.
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Dorchester County, South Carolina
Overview
Dorchester County in South Carolina covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (80/100).
5 of 12 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 16 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to South Carolina water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.