PlainWater

Community Water System · PWS SC3210003

Cayce City of (3210003)

West Columbia, South Carolina 29171 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 17,460 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

17,460
People served
28
EPA violations
9
Health-based
6 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 28 drinking-water violations at Cayce City of (3210003), 32% of them health-based - above the South Carolina per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds.

28
Total EPA violations on record
32%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
17,460
People served by this system
6
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Cayce City of (3210003)

Cayce City of (3210003) is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 17,460 residents in West Columbia, South Carolina (Lexington County) through 8,224 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 28 total violations for this system , of which 9 (32%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 19 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2012.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 9 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 6 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 7.4 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across South Carolina, EPA tracks 1,390 public water systems serving 4,709,324 people, with 38,355 cumulative violations and 9,705 health-based violations on record. About 65% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 27.6 violations. Statewide, 107 of 164 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (65.2%).

Cayce City of (3210003)'s 28 violations sit above the South Carolina average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

6 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
17,460
Total Violations
28
Health-Based Violations
9
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
8,224
County
Lexington
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
9
Monitoring Violations
19
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 9 2012
Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 1992
Coliform (TCR) MR 4 2003
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 1993
Nitrate MR 3 1993
Chromium MR 1 1993
Barium MR 1 1993
Mercury MR 1 1993
Selenium MR 1 1993
Cadmium MR 1 1993

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 16 of 87 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NFDHA 9/16/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/16/2025 7.40 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFBA 9/16/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/16/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/16/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/16/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/16/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/16/2025 5.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFEESA 9/16/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/16/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/16/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/16/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/16/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/16/2025 3.80 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 9/16/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/16/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/16/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/16/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/16/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/16/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/16/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/16/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/16/2025 6.30 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOA 9/16/2025 5.50 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDA 9/16/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/16/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/16/2025 4.90 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/16/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/16/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 4/30/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 4/30/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 4/30/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 4/30/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/30/2025 5.50 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 4/30/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/30/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 4/30/2025 3.60 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
HFPO-DA 4/30/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 4/30/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 4/30/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/30/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/30/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 4/30/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/30/2025 5.20 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFTrDA 4/30/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 4/30/2025 4.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
NFDHA 4/30/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/30/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 4/30/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/30/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Cayce City of (3210003).

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID SC3210003 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

South Carolina Drinking Water Authority

South Carolina's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find SC regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2012 TTHM MCL 9 SDWIS / SC3210003 / 2950
2003 Coliform (TCR) MR 4 SDWIS / SC3210003 / 3100
1993 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 SDWIS / SC3210003 / 0200
1993 Nitrate MR 3 SDWIS / SC3210003 / 1040
1993 Chromium MR 1 SDWIS / SC3210003 / 1020
1993 Barium MR 1 SDWIS / SC3210003 / 1010
1993 Mercury MR 1 SDWIS / SC3210003 / 1035
1993 Selenium MR 1 SDWIS / SC3210003 / 1045
1993 Cadmium MR 1 SDWIS / SC3210003 / 1015
1992 Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 SDWIS / SC3210003 / 5000

How Cayce City of (3210003) Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Cayce City of (3210003) South Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 28 27.6 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 9 7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 6 compounds 65.2% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 17,460 3,388 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 1,390 regulated public water systems in South Carolina.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cayce City of (3210003) water safe to drink?
Cayce City of (3210003) (PWS ID: SC3210003) has 28 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 6 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 17,460 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Cayce City of (3210003) serve?
Cayce City of (3210003) serves 17,460 people in West Columbia, South Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 8,224 service connections.
What type of violations does Cayce City of (3210003) have?
Cayce City of (3210003) has 28 total violations: 9 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 19 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Cayce City of (3210003) water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds in Cayce City of (3210003)'s water supply: HFPO-DA, PFPeA, PFBS, PFOS, PFOA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Cayce City of (3210003) use?
Cayce City of (3210003) uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.