Columbia City of (sc4010001)
EPA ID: SC4010001 · 319,500 people served · 47 ZIP codes
2 open EPA findings remain on record at Columbia City of (sc4010001) — the utility supplies approximately 319,500 people.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 47 (2021) to 50 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Columbia City of (sc4010001) Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade A
Service Area Demographics
The Columbia City of (sc4010001) serves a community with a median household income of $64,427 and an estimated 545,134 residents across its service area. Approximately 47% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 41% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Columbia City of (sc4010001)'s water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Richland County, South Carolina rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Columbia City of (sc4010001) compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Contaminant 1009 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.004 mg/L. Intestinal damage, bone damage. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 147 detections recorded. 44 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 44 exceed state limits.
Contaminant 1009 was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in South Carolina
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
COLUMBIA CITY OF (SC4010001) (EPA ID: SC4010001) is a community water system in South Carolina that serves approximately 319,500 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 47 ZIP codes across 14 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: A (86/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| December 1, 2024 | Contaminant 1009 | Health-based | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 2 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Contaminant 1009 | Other Violation | 1 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | Yes |
Health Risk Details
Beryllium (EPA limit: 0.004 mg/L)
Intestinal damage, bone damage At-risk groups: long-term residents, people with gastrointestinal conditions.
Removal methods: reverse osmosis, activated alumina, coagulation/filtration. Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29044 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29201 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29202 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29203 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29204 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29205 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29206 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29207 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29208 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29209 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29210 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29211 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29212 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29214 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29215 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29216 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29217 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29218 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29219 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 29220 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 24 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 23 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 47 ZIP codes:
29016 · 29036 · 29044 · 29045 · 29061 29063 · 29075 · 29078 · 29130 · 29147 29169 · 29177 · 29180 · 29201 · 29202 29203 · 29204 · 29205 · 29206 · 29207 29208 · 29209 · 29210 · 29211 · 29212 29214 · 29215 · 29216 · 29217 · 29218 29219 · 29220 · 29221 · 29222 · 29223 29224 · 29225 · 29226 · 29227 · 29228 29229 · 29230 · 29240 · 29250 · 29260 29290 · 29292
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Columbia City of (sc4010001) (SC4010001) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbia City of (sc4010001) water safe to drink?
Columbia City of (sc4010001) has recorded 2 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Columbia City of (sc4010001) serve?
Columbia City of (sc4010001) serves approximately 319,500 people across 47 ZIP codes in South Carolina.
Where does Columbia City of (sc4010001) get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Columbia City of (sc4010001) (EPA ID: SC4010001) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.