South Carolina has free or low-cost well testing. Across the state, the ones worth testing for are radon, plus bacteria and nitrate every year.
About 1,039,000 people in South Carolina get their water from a private well, about 2 in 10 residents.
SCDES gives people over 65 or on public assistance one free coliform bacteria test and one free metals and minerals analysis per year, and fees may be waived or reduced based on ability to pay.
Department of Environmental Services (SCDES): private well testingThe state's list of labs certified for drinking water. Many sell bottles you pick up or get by mail, and their results count for a home sale or loan.
Labs certified by South CarolinaOrder online, fill the bottles at your kitchen tap and get results by email in about a week. Full well tests run about $210 to $220.
Compare kits for South CarolinaShare of tested wells over the limit, from lab tests the USGS, EPA and state agencies collected since 2000. Your own well needs its own test.
Rare: under 5%Worth checking: 5 to 15%Widespread: 15%+
Lab results: Water Quality Portal (USGS and EPA)
5 counties have a full report with local test results and well depths.
No full report for that county yet. The statewide results above still apply, and so do the three ways to get tested.
| County | People on private wells | Share of residents | Typical well depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| York County | 73,956 | 26% | 155 ft |
| Lexington County | 63,580 | 22% | 160 ft |
| Horry County | 57,749 | 16% | 252 ft |
| Spartanburg County | 50,383 | 15% | 265 ft |
| Florence County | 42,482 | 31% | 150 ft |
| Berkeley County | 41,598 | 18% | 200 ft |
| Aiken County | 36,747 | 22% | 124 ft |
| Orangeburg County | 36,134 | 43% | 168 ft |
| Anderson County | 32,875 | 16% | 232 ft |
| Sumter County | 29,650 | 28% | 105 ft |
| Laurens County | 27,514 | 41% | 220 ft |
| Charleston County | 26,768 | 7% | 500 ft |
| Chester County | 25,723 | 80% | – |
| Beaufort County | 24,992 | 13% | 100 ft |
| Darlington County | 23,948 | 38% | 100 ft |
| Colleton County | 22,048 | 57% | 460 ft |
| Chesterfield County | 21,839 | 50% | 125 ft |
| Williamsburg County | 21,690 | 70% | 195 ft |
| Dorchester County | 21,595 | 13% | 360 ft |
| Lancaster County | 21,338 | 22% | 300 ft |
| Clarendon County | 20,702 | 66% | 215 ft |
| Cherokee County | 19,857 | 35% | 202 ft |
| Kershaw County | 19,701 | 30% | 110 ft |
| Greenwood County | 19,091 | 28% | 265 ft |
| Newberry County | 18,788 | 50% | 230 ft |
| Oconee County | 18,661 | 24% | 205 ft |
| Jasper County | 14,707 | 51% | 184 ft |
| Richland County | 14,600 | 4% | 175 ft |
| Georgetown County | 14,524 | 23% | 104 ft |
| Pickens County | 14,115 | 11% | 254 ft |
| Abbeville County | 13,634 | 56% | 320 ft |
| Saluda County | 13,393 | 71% | 203 ft |
| Fairfield County | 12,913 | 62% | 190 ft |
| Greenville County | 12,369 | 2% | 205 ft |
| Dillon County | 11,927 | 42% | 42 ft |
| Marlboro County | 11,585 | 43% | 39 ft |
| Edgefield County | 11,131 | 43% | 310 ft |
| Marion County | 11,057 | 38% | 150 ft |
| Calhoun County | 10,750 | 76% | 206 ft |
| Union County | 10,470 | 38% | 230 ft |
| Hampton County | 10,193 | 55% | 168 ft |
| Barnwell County | 10,076 | 49% | 140 ft |
| Lee County | 9,555 | 58% | 58 ft |
| Bamberg County | 6,112 | 46% | 180 ft |
| McCormick County | 3,349 | 35% | – |
| Allendale County | 2,743 | 34% | 256 ft |
South Carolina doesn't require routine testing of existing private wells. Keeping a well safe is up to the owner, so test for bacteria and nitrate every year.
SCDES gives people over 65 or on public assistance one free coliform bacteria test and one free metals and minerals analysis per year, and fees may be waived or reduced based on ability to pay. Otherwise, use a lab certified by South Carolina for drinking water. The state's list is linked on this page.