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Buford, SC Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Lancaster County W&sd (sc2920001) PWSID: SC2920001 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 5.00 ppb, 33% of the action level and no violations are open. PFAS was sampled but not enough times for a compliance determination.

B

Buford earns a B for water quality

Graded on violations and lead, with state inspection findings. PFAS not tested.

Lead: 5.00 ppb — 33% of the federal action level
PFAS sampled, too few results to judge
2 violations since 2015, 1 health-based
No violations currently open
Buford's lead level vs. all South Carolina community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 5.00 ppb — 33% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 16% of South Carolina utilities
Population Served
~36859 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
33% of EPA action level
5.00 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 5.00 ppb, 33% 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
Public Notice OTHER — — 2019 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule MCL EXCEEDANCE — — 2019 Resolved
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 1 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Lancaster County W&Sd (Sc2920001)
PWSID SC2920001
Water source Surface water — Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
Population served
Service connections 36,859
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Buford tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 5.00 ppb, 33% of the action level.
Does Buford water have PFAS? ▼
It was sampled, but no sampling point had enough results for a compliance determination.
Who supplies water to Buford? ▼
Lancaster County W&Sd (Sc2920001) (PWSID SC2920001). Surface water. Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2024-08-14. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Buford Residents Do?

1
Consider a filter certified for lead
Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead reduction.
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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