What was found in Pickens'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 | 906 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 175.6 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 802.45 µg/L — ROCK POINT HOA (SC3950007) · 70 people · 2017 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 130 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 230 µg/L — GAULEY FALLS 2 4 5 6 (SC3950008) · 23 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 230 µg/L 2.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: GAULEY FALLS 2 4 5 6 (SC3950008) · 23 people · 2018 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 89.495 µg/L 112% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 81.565 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 56.4 µg/L 94% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 69.944 µg/L — BETHLEHEM-ROANOKE W/D (SC3920003) · 6,334 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 5.35 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 53.5 µg/L — DACUSVILLE-CEDAR ROCK WT CO (SC3920008) · 8,700 people · 2017 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 33.95 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 34.167 µg/L — BETHLEHEM-ROANOKE W/D (SC3920003) · 6,334 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 22.825 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 33.423 µg/L — BETHLEHEM-ROANOKE W/D (SC3920003) · 6,334 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 9.375 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 7.926 pCi/L 53% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: GAULEY FALLS W/S (SC3950004) · 36 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 4.93 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GAULEY FALLS 2 4 5 6 (SC3950008) · 23 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.35 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.526 µg/L — DACUSVILLE-CEDAR ROCK WT CO (SC3920008) · 8,700 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: DACUSVILLE-CEDAR ROCK WT CO (SC3920008) · 8,700 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.315 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.725 µg/L — DACUSVILLE-CEDAR ROCK WT CO (SC3920008) · 8,700 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.8200 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: ROCK POINT HOA (SC3950007) · 70 people · 2016 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.1304 pCi/L 2.6% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: GAULEY FALLS 2 4 5 6 (SC3950008) · 23 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0040 mg/L 27% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) · 10,263 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0140 mg/L — BETHLEHEM-ROANOKE W/D (SC3920003) · 6,334 people · 2023 | 6/6 | LCR |
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 Pickens
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| PICKENS WTP (SC3910001) | 10,263 |
| DACUSVILLE-CEDAR ROCK WT CO (SC3920008) | 8,700 |
| BETHLEHEM-ROANOKE W/D (SC3920003) | 6,334 |
| ROCK POINT HOA (SC3950007) | 70 |
| GAULEY FALLS W/S (SC3950004) | 36 |
| GAULEY FALLS 2 4 5 6 (SC3950008) | 23 |
Frequently asked questions about Pickens tap water
Is Pickens tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 19 contaminants in the water serving Pickens. 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 Pickens?
6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Pickens, South Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Pickens's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Pickens include Fluoride, Copper, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, TTHM. 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.