What was found in Hilton Head Island's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 537.5 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 779.5 µg/L — SOUTH ISLAND PSD (SC0720001) · 18,299 people · 2017 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 170 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 261.5 µg/L — WATER OAK UTILITY CO (SC0750002) · 2,318 people · 2017 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 180 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 34.908 µg/L 44% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 64.9815 µg/L — WATER OAK UTILITY CO (SC0750002) · 2,318 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 36.296 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 42.78 µg/L — WATER OAK UTILITY CO (SC0750002) · 2,318 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 15.63 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 39.16 µg/L — WATER OAK UTILITY CO (SC0750002) · 2,318 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 7.235 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 37.246 µg/L — SOUTH ISLAND PSD (SC0720001) · 18,299 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 18.169 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.334 µg/L — WATER OAK UTILITY CO (SC0750002) · 2,318 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 12.96 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23.045 µg/L — WATER OAK UTILITY CO (SC0750002) · 2,318 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 12.42 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.1865 µg/L — SOUTH ISLAND PSD (SC0720001) · 18,299 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 10.111 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.8285 µg/L — WATER OAK UTILITY CO (SC0750002) · 2,318 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 10.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 21.3 µg/L — BROAD CREEK PSD (SC0720009) · 3,481 people · 2024 | 3/6 | UCMR-5 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 16.8807 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 6.149 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.5275 µg/L — WATER OAK UTILITY CO (SC0750002) · 2,318 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.297 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.5845 µg/L — SOUTH ISLAND PSD (SC0720001) · 18,299 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 9.285 µg/L 62% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 11.58 µg/L — DAUFUSKIE ISL UTIL-HAIG POINT (0750036) · 608 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| PFOS | 0.0052 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2025 | 1/6 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0051 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2025 | 1/6 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0010 mg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0044 mg/L — WELLS EAST S/D (SC0750026) · 60 people · 2025 | 6/6 | LCR |
| PFBS | 0.0043 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2025 | 1/6 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0030 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) · 25,558 people · 2025 | 1/6 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Hilton Head Island
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| HILTON HEAD PSD 1 (0720006) | 25,558 |
| SOUTH ISLAND PSD (SC0720001) | 18,299 |
| BROAD CREEK PSD (SC0720009) | 3,481 |
| WATER OAK UTILITY CO (SC0750002) | 2,318 |
| DAUFUSKIE ISL UTIL-HAIG POINT (0750036) | 608 |
| WELLS EAST S/D (SC0750026) | 60 |
Frequently asked questions about Hilton Head Island tap water
Is Hilton Head Island tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 21 contaminants in the water serving Hilton Head Island. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Hilton Head Island?
6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Hilton Head Island's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Hilton Head Island include Fluoride, Copper, Nitrate, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.