States ›South Carolina ›Charleston County ›Isle of Palms

Isle of Palms, SC Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Isle of Palms, SC — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Isle of Palms's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Isle Of Palms W/s Comm (sc1010004) PWSID: SC1010004 Updated: 2026 Q2
⚠️

PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points

Lead is 0.49 ppb, 3% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points, running as high as 1.69 times the limit.

B

Isle of Palms earns a B for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 0.49 ppb — 3% of the federal action level
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points
2 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Isle of Palms's lead level vs. all South Carolina community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 0.49 ppb — 3% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 90% of South Carolina utilities
Population Served
4347
~4811 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
Active Violations
0
2 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
3% of EPA action level
0.49 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 0.49 ppb, 3% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Toxaphene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.003 mg/L 2023–2025 Archived
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0005 mg/L 2023–2025 Archived
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

2 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Isle Of Palms W/S Comm (Sc1010004)
PWSID SC1010004
Water source Surface water — Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
Population served 4,347
Service connections 4,811
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Isle of Palms tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 0.49 ppb, 3% of the action level.
Does Isle of Palms water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points, running as high as 1.69 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Isle of Palms? ▼
Isle Of Palms W/S Comm (Sc1010004) (PWSID SC1010004). Surface water. Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2026-01-15. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Isle of Palms Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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