What was found in York'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 4325 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC POLLYS CIRCLE (SC4660073) · 114 people · 2019 | 11/16 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 3235 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC POLLYS CIRCLE (SC4660073) · 114 people · 2017 | 11/16 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 112.75 µg/L 8.7% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1010 µg/L — BGWC SHANDON (SC4650009) · 183 people · 2018 | 16/16 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 256.5 µg/L 6.4% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC OLYMPIC ACRES (SC4650053) · 209 people · 2019 | 7/16 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 117.1 µg/L 781% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2018 | 13/16 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 85.96 µg/L 107% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 98.46 µg/L — YORK COUNTY WEST WD (SC4620003) · 18,273 people · 2019 | 8/16 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 40.27 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 76.64 µg/L — YORK CITY OF (SC4610001) · 11,137 people · 2019 | 7/16 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 26.73 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 58.398 µg/L — YORK CITY OF (SC4610001) · 11,137 people · 2019 | 7/16 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 15.905 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 35.792 µg/L — YORK CITY OF (SC4610001) · 11,137 people · 2019 | 7/16 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 29.645 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 34.415 µg/L — YORK COUNTY WEST WD (SC4620003) · 18,273 people · 2019 | 7/16 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 23.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 27.645 µg/L — YORK COUNTY WEST WD (SC4620003) · 18,273 people · 2019 | 8/16 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 9.55 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18.4035 µg/L — YORK CITY OF (SC4610001) · 11,137 people · 2019 | 5/16 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 16.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.715 µg/L — YORK COUNTY WEST WD (SC4620003) · 18,273 people · 2019 | 5/16 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 14.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: YORK CITY OF (SC4610001) · 11,137 people · 2019 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 13.2075 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC POLLYS CIRCLE (SC4660073) · 114 people · 2019 | 2/16 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 9.47 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.94 µg/L — YORK CITY OF (SC4610001) · 11,137 people · 2019 | 5/16 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 8.511 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2019 | 3/16 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 6.9 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC OLYMPIC ACRES (SC4650053) · 209 people · 2016 | 4/16 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 6.41 µg/L 6.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: GOODS MHP (SC4660098) · 128 people · 2019 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 5.18 pCi/L 35% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: BGWC SHANDON (SC4650009) · 183 people · 2015 | 6/16 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.8 µg/L 5.6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC OLYMPIC ACRES (SC4650053) · 209 people · 2019 | 2/16 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.5 pCi/L 50% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: LAKE WYLIE MHP (SC4660081) · 1,225 people · 2018 | 4/16 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 1.965 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: BGWC POLLYS CIRCLE (SC4660073) · 114 people · 2019 | 2/16 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0030 mg/L 20% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0070 mg/L — BGWC OLYMPIC ACRES (SC4650053) · 209 people · 2023 | 16/16 | LCR |
| Pfpea | 0.0048 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0049 µg/L — YORK COUNTY WEST WD (SC4620003) · 18,273 people · 2023 | 3/16 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0044 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK COUNTY EAST WD (SC4620002) · 30,225 people · 2025 | 3/16 | 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 York
Frequently asked questions about York tap water
Is York tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 26 contaminants in the water serving York. 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 York?
16 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for York, South Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in York's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in York include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, Lead. 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.