Lancaster County, South Carolina — public water systems

How does Lancaster County compare with other South Carolina counties?

Lancaster County has the 35th-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 96,861 people served in total, the 16th-largest county figure in the state and 2% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 10,762 people, about 3.1 times 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 Lancaster County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Lancaster County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (6, 67%), groundwater (2, 22%) and surface water (1, 11%). Overall, 22% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 78% 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, Lancaster County W&Sd (Sc2920001), draws primarily on purchased surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Lancaster County?

Lancaster County's active systems break down as 5 community systems (56%) and 4 transient non-community systems (44%). 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 (44%), local government (44%) and public/private partnership (11%).