Public water system · SC4010001
ActiveColumbia City of (Sc4010001)
At a glance
Columbia City of (Sc4010001) (PWSID SC4010001) is an active community water system in Richland County, South Carolina. It reports serving 354,068 people through 153,754 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 10 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
354,068
Service connections
153,754
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Columbia City of (Sc4010001) compare with other water systems in Richland County?
By EPA's size categories, Columbia City of (Sc4010001) is a very large system (more than 100,000 people). Richland County has 76 active public water systems, and Columbia City of (Sc4010001) is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 68 times the county average of 5,214 people per system, and accounts for 89% of the 396,265 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across South Carolina, the 1,392 active systems average 3,511 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Columbia City of (Sc4010001) is about 53 times that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
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. South Carolina has 567 active community water systems, 41% of the state's 1,392 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 53 South Carolina systems (3.8%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Columbia City of (Sc4010001)?
EPA lists Columbia City of (Sc4010001) as owned by a local government. The SC state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 5 of the 76 active systems in Richland County (6.6%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Columbia City of (Sc4010001) have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 10 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2024. The violations listed here began between July 1993 and December 2024. By type: 5 contaminant level above the legal limit, 5 required treatment not met and 2 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (5 of them). EPA lists 11 as resolved and 1 as archived. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-12-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Chloritecode 1009 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2021-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) · code 1A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chloritecode 1009 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-11-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-04-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2007-05-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2005-08-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1999-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1997-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1997-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Columbia City of (Sc4010001): frequently asked questions
Who runs Columbia City of (Sc4010001)?
Columbia City of (Sc4010001) (PWSID SC4010001) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the SC state drinking water program.
How many people does Columbia City of (Sc4010001) serve?
Columbia City of (Sc4010001) reports serving 354,068 people through 153,754 service connections in Richland County, South Carolina.
Where does Columbia City of (Sc4010001) get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Columbia City of (Sc4010001) have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 10 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2024. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Columbia City of (Sc4010001)'s water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 10 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the SC state drinking water program.
Where can I find Columbia City of (Sc4010001)'s water quality report?
As a community water system, Columbia City of (Sc4010001) must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Richland County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Jackson (Sc4010501) | Richland | 31,000 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Hopkins Community Water System (4020002) | Richland | 2,200 | Community | Groundwater |
| Mccrady Training Center (Sc4070911) | Richland | 1,200 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Bgwc Raintree Acres (Sc4050015) | Richland | 799 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Sylvamo Eastover Mill (Sc4030005) | Richland | 750 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Eastover Town of (Sc4010002) | Richland | 700 | Community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Columbia City of (Sc4010001), PWSID SC4010001, South Carolina”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/south-carolina/columbia-city-of-sc4010001-sc4010001 (data as of October 1, 2026).