Beaufort County, South Carolina — public water systems

How does Beaufort County compare with other South Carolina counties?

Beaufort County has the 11th-most active public water systems among the 58 counties listed for active South Carolina systems in EPA records; among the 46 with 3 or more systems, the median has 18. Its systems report 222,959 people served in total, the 6th-largest county figure in the state and 4.6% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 4,955 people, about 41% above the South Carolina average of 3,511. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Beaufort County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Beaufort County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (22, 49%), groundwater (20, 44%), purchased groundwater (2, 4.4%) and surface water (1, 2.2%). Overall, 49% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 51% on surface water, compared with 70% and 30% across South Carolina. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. The county's largest system, Bjw&Sa (Sc0720003), draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Beaufort County?

Beaufort County's active systems break down as 15 community systems (33%) and 30 transient non-community systems (67%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (80%) and local government (20%).