Public water system record
City of Columbia
Serves an area of Richland County, SC that includes Columbia, Blythewood, Lake Murray of Richland and 10 more places · 319,500 people served
Federal records show 2 health-based violations and 1 monitoring/reporting issue for City of Columbia in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Chlorite violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 2
- Resolved
- 2
- Unresolved
- 0
- Any acute record
- Yes
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 1
Key facts
- City of Columbia draws water from 2 surface water intakes.
- Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Chlorite, 1.33 mg/L, federal limit 1 mg/L (1.3 times the limit), 2024.
- Most recent formal enforcement: administrative penalty by South Carolina, June 2021.
- Record on file since 1991, with 11 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 895 unknown out of 161,692 service lines.
Check whether City of Columbia serves your address
Health-based violations
Since October 2016Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.
| Contaminant | Rule family | Start date | Status | Acute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chlorite
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 1.33 mg/L, federal limit 1 mg/L (1.3 times the limit)
|
210 | Dec 1, 2024 | Resolved | No |
|
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
110 | Apr 1, 2021 | Resolved | Yes |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Chlorite
Monitoring and reporting
|
Aug 1, 2017 | Resolved |
Full record since 1991
EPA's records for City of Columbia go back to 1991. Before October 19, 2016 they list 11 health-based violations (7 resolved, 4 archived by EPA without a recorded fix) and 8 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6 | 8 |
| 2000s | 4 | 0 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 1 | 0 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020s | 2 | 0 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute), began November 2015, Resolved.
Show all 11 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Nov 1, 2015 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Oct 1, 2009 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Apr 1, 2009 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
May 1, 2007 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Aug 1, 2005 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform (acute)
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Oct 1, 1999 | Archived |
|
Total Coliform (acute)
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Nov 1, 1997 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Nov 1, 1997 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform (acute)
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 1991 | Archived |
|
Total Coliform (acute)
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
May 1, 1991 | Archived |
|
Total Coliform (acute)
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Mar 1, 1991 | Archived |
Enforcement actions
South Carolina regulators took 4 formal enforcement actions against City of Columbia and issued 1 boil water order between 2010 and 2021. The most recent was an administrative penalty in June 2021.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 2021 | South Carolina | Administrative penalty | 1 violation (1 health-based): Revised Total Coliform Rule |
| Jun 8, 2021 | South Carolina | Compliance order with a penalty | 1 violation (1 health-based): Revised Total Coliform Rule |
| Apr 15, 2021 | South Carolina | Boil water order | 1 violation (1 health-based): Revised Total Coliform Rule |
| Mar 1, 2010 | South Carolina | Administrative penalty | 2 violations (2 health-based): Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule |
| Mar 1, 2010 | South Carolina | Compliance order with a penalty | 2 violations (2 health-based): Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule |
What the violations mean
Chlorite
1 incidentTest results for Chlorite were above the federal limit (a maximum contaminant level violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Revised Total Coliform Rule
1 incidentThe system did not meet a requirement of the Revised Total Coliform Rule
Coliform and E. coli rules protect against bacteria in the distribution system
Where the water comes from
City of Columbia draws water from 2 surface water intakes. 10 other community water systems and 15 smaller public systems such as schools, businesses or campgrounds buy water from City of Columbia.
Community systems that buy water from it
- Amicks Ferry Wtr System Chapin, SC
- BGWC Charleswood S/D Columbia, SC
- BGWC Dutchman Shores Columbia, SC
- BGWC Farrowwood Estates Columbia, SC
- BGWC Indian Cove S/D Columbia, SC
- BGWC Indian Fork-40 Love Columbia, SC
- BGWC Raintree Acres Columbia, SC
- BGWC Stonegate Columbia, SC
- BGWC Washington Heights Columbia, SC
- Fort Jackson Fort Jackson, SC
Annual water quality report
City of Columbia must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.
Systems serving 10,000 or more people must mail or deliver the report to every customer, and from 2027 they must send it twice a year.
Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search
Testing your own water
To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by South Carolina.
Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells