Richland County, South Carolina
36 ZIP codes · Avg score 86/100 · Grade A · Updated 2026-06-04
Richland County maintains reliable drinking water quality across all 36 of its tracked ZIP codes.
How Richland County Compares
How Richland County Compares
Richland County scores 8 points above the South Carolina state average (78/100) and 18 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Richland 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: 12.3 (asthma 9.9%, diabetes 13.2%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,063, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.355% avg pipe failure probability, 11% of ZIPs at high risk
Violation History (2021–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Richland County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 35 violations. Past 5 years: 69 total (69 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
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: $1,063
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Richland County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Richland 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 Richland 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 Richland County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) | 319,500 | 157 |
| 2 | Lieber Correctional Institute (1870050) | 1,646 | 145 |
| 3 | Macdougall Correctional Inst (sc0870050) | 790 | 145 |
| 4 | Bay Capital Water Works (sc4050031) | 647 | 145 |
| 5 | Bgwc Charleswood S/d (4050008) | 484 | 145 |
24 total water systems serve Richland County.
All ZIP Codes in Richland County
36 ZIP codes tracked in Richland County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29208 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 2 | 29211 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 3 | 29216 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 4 | 29217 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 5 | 29218 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 6 | 29219 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 7 | 29220 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 8 | 29224 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 9 | 29225 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 10 | 29226 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 11 | 29227 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 12 | 29240 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 13 | 29250 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 14 | 29290 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 15 | 29292 | Columbia | 93 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 16 | 29202 | Columbia | 90 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 17 | 29207 | Columbia | 90 | A | 5 (2 health) | $169K |
| 18 | 29214 | Columbia | 90 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 19 | 29215 | Columbia | 90 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 20 | 29221 | Columbia | 90 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 21 | 29260 | Columbia | 90 | A | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 22 | 29036 | Chapin | 89 | A | 3 | $378K |
| 23 | 29061 | Hopkins | 86 | A | 7 (1 health) | $162K |
| 24 | 29201 | Columbia | 85 | A | 5 (2 health) | $238K |
| 25 | 29229 | Columbia | 85 | A | 5 (2 health) | $231K |
| 26 | 29063 | Irmo | 84 | B | 2 | $239K |
| 27 | 29203 | Columbia | 80 | B | 5 (2 health) | $122K |
| 28 | 29204 | Columbia | 80 | B | 5 (2 health) | $186K |
| 29 | 29209 | Columbia | 80 | B | 5 (2 health) | $183K |
| 30 | 29223 | Columbia | 80 | B | 5 (2 health) | $184K |
| 31 | 29205 | Columbia | 75 | B | 5 (2 health) | $335K |
| 32 | 29206 | Columbia | 75 | B | 5 (2 health) | $329K |
| 33 | 29052 | Gadsden | 73 | B | 0 | $75K |
| 34 | 29002 | Ballentine | 68 | C | 4 (1 health) | — |
| 35 | 29104 | Mayesville | 66 | C | 0 | $108K |
| 36 | 29152 | Shaw A F B | 66 | C | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Richland County
Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Richland County, South Carolina
Overview
Richland County in South Carolina covers 36 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of A (86/100).
33 of 36 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 60 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.