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Plum Branch, SC Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Mccormick Co W&sa (sc3520002) PWSID: SC3520002 Updated: 2026 Q2
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PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 3 sampling points

Lead was not detected and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 3 sampling points, running as high as 1.97 times the limit.

C

Plum Branch earns a C for water quality

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

Lead: not detected
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 3 sampling points
12 violations since 2015, 12 health-based
No violations currently open
Plum Branch's lead level vs. all South Carolina community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: Not detected — 0% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than % of South Carolina utilities
Population Served
70
~6701 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
Active Violations
0
12 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
0% of EPA action level
Not detected
Action level: 15 ppb
Lead was not detected at the 90th percentile — the result fell below the laboratory detection limit. That is not the same as an absence of lead in every tap, and older homes with lead service lines can still show higher readings.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.082 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2023 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.097 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2022 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.115 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2022 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.111 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2022 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.099 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2022 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.081 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2019 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.083 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2019 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.086 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2019 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.083 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2019 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.082 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2016 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.082 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2015 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.082 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2015 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

12 violations are on record since 2015, of which 12 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Mccormick Co W&Sa (Sc3520002)
PWSID SC3520002
Water source Surface water — Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
Population served 70
Service connections 6,701
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Plum Branch tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 3 sampling points. No violations are currently open.
Does Plum Branch water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 3 sampling points, running as high as 1.97 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Plum Branch? ▼
Mccormick Co W&Sa (Sc3520002) (PWSID SC3520002). Surface water. Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2024-12-12. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Plum Branch 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.

Nearby Cities in South Carolina

McCormick, Sc Tap Water Quality 2026 McCormick