States › South Carolina › Horry County

Horry County, SC Water Quality

Water quality data for 5 public water systems serving Horry County, South Carolina — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 5 water systems · 19 cities
✅
Generally Safe — Most Systems Performing Well

The majority of water systems have no active violations and lead levels well below the federal action level.

B

Horry County Earns a B

Horry County: 19 communities across 5 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 0.56 ppb
  • 19 communities with a lead detection, 0 reporting none detected
  • 15 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 0 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
0.56 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
5
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
100%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Myrtle Beach
    0.65 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Conway
    0.58 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Loris
    1.10 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Homewood
    0.58 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Socastee
    0.56 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 4 sampling points
    B
⚠ Needs Attention
  • North Myrtle Beach
    1.30 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 4 sampling points
    C
  • Briarcliffe Acres
    1.30 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 4 sampling points
    C
  • Atlantic Beach
    1.30 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 4 sampling points
    C
  • Socastee
    0.56 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 4 sampling points
    B
  • Carolina Forest
    0.56 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 4 sampling points
    B
County Lead Level — Median 0.56 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 0.56 ppb — 3.7% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
19

All Cities in Horry County

Myrtle Beach 0.65 ppb B
Conway 0.58 ppb B
Socastee 0.56 ppb B
Carolina Forest 0.56 ppb B
North Myrtle Beach 1.30 ppb C
Little River 0.56 ppb B
Red Hill 0.56 ppb B
Garden City 0.56 ppb B
Forestbrook 0.56 ppb B
Surfside Beach 0.56 ppb B
Loris 1.10 ppb B
Homewood 0.58 ppb B
Aynor 0.56 ppb B
Briarcliffe Acres 1.30 ppb C
Bucksport 0.56 ppb B
Finklea 0.56 ppb B
Atlantic Beach 1.30 ppb C
Green Sea 0.56 ppb B
Live Oak 0.56 ppb B
Showing 19 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Horry County Drinking Water

Horry County is served by 5 water systems covering 19 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 19 recorded a detection, with a median of 0.56 ppb — 4% of the federal action level. 0 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

15 of 19 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded no significant deficiencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Horry County tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in Horry County has an open violation on record. 15 of 19 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Horry County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 0.56 ppb, 4% of the 15 ppb action level. 0 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Horry County?▼
5 community water systems serve 19 communities here.
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