Iron in South Carolina well water
In South Carolina, iron was detected in 80% of 2,309 tested private well samples.
Iron is a nuisance rather than a health hazard: rust stains, metallic taste, and clogged fixtures above 300 ug/L. It often occurs with manganese and can feed iron bacteria that foul plumbing.
Check your iron number
Type the value from your lab report. It is compared to the EPA limit, the same way the full interpretation does it.
Test your South Carolina well for iron
Certified lab analysis of your own tap water, bottles and prepaid return shipping included. The Essential well panel covers arsenic, uranium, nitrate, lead, copper, manganese, iron, sodium and bacteria; radon and PFAS are add-ons.
Order the Tap Score well water test kit, from $209Already tested? Upload the report
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Systems that remove iron
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Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
For iron
Iron and manganese oxidizing filter
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $1,800
Air-injection or greensand media; fixes staining at the source.
Rather have it installed and sized for your well? Book a free in-home water test with a licensed local company.
Where to get a well tested for iron in South Carolina: certified labs, state programs and prices.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit; counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Above EPA limit | Samples | Detected | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williamsburg | no limit | 32 | 100% | 125 | 4,600 ug/L |
| Georgetown | no limit | 48 | 100% | 105 | 4,100 ug/L |
| Horry | no limit | 141 | 99% | 140 | 35,000 ug/L |
| Aiken | no limit | 106 | 96% | 720 | 6,880 ug/L |
| Sumter | no limit | 31 | 94% | 180 | 74,000 ug/L |
| Beaufort | no limit | 155 | 93% | 160 | 115,000 ug/L |
| Florence | no limit | 36 | 92% | 1,645 | 14,000 ug/L |
| Bamberg | no limit | 34 | 91% | 330 | 24,300 ug/L |
| Richland | no limit | 136 | 91% | 41.4 | 20,800 ug/L |
| Barnwell | no limit | 167 | 89% | 300 | 4,900 ug/L |
| Hampton | no limit | 42 | 88% | 41.0 | 1,910 ug/L |
| Allendale | no limit | 46 | 85% | 80 | 6,400 ug/L |
| Charleston | no limit | 304 | 85% | 11.5 | 3,600 ug/L |
| Lexington | no limit | 102 | 76% | 0.1 | 7,500 ug/L |
| Colleton | no limit | 57 | 75% | 30 | 9,220 ug/L |
- Jackson CCD, Aiken County100% detected of 32
- Little River CCD, Horry County100% detected of 40
- St. Helena Island CCD, Beaufort County100% detected of 32
- Monetta CCD, Aiken County100% detected of 49
- Myrtle Beach CCD, Horry County99% detected of 67
- Beaufort-Port Royal CCD, Beaufort County89% detected of 61
- Columbia CCD, Richland County88% detected of 86
- Charleston Central CCD, Charleston County87% detected of 167
- Kline-Snelling CCD, Barnwell County86% detected of 138
- West Columbia-Cayce CCD, Lexington County83% detected of 30
- Anderson CCD, Anderson County75% detected of 36
- West Ashley CCD, Charleston County73% detected of 75
- Clover CCD, York County53% detected of 43
- Fort Mill CCD, York County53% detected of 34
- Rock Hill CCD, York County52% detected of 42
- Bowman CCD, Orangeburg County44% detected of 101
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. iron counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.