Well & TapHome Water Treatment Database

Is there PFAS in Joint Municipal WSC (3220003) water?

Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Joint Municipal WSC (3220003) averaged 5.6 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 1.4 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.

Joint Municipal WSC (3220003) Serves 47,838 people · 4 PFOA samples from 1 sampling point · Nov 2023 to Aug 2024 Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid 2.1 ppt avg · max 4.4
EPA 4
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid 5.6 ppt avg · max 6.2
EPA 4
HFPO-DA GenX (HFPO-DA) 8.3 ppt avg · max 10.1
EPA 10
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined 0.8 avg · max 1.0
EPA 1

Also detected, no federal limit: PFPeA, PFHxA.

Averages are for the worst sampling point, with non-detects counted as zero. Source: EPA UCMR 5.

Joint Municipal WSC (3220003) is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Swansea, South Carolina, serving about 47,838 people, including Gaston, Lexington, Pelion, West Columbia. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 4 times across 1 sampling point between Nov 2023 and Aug 2024.

Every PFAS detected

PFAS Detected Highest Worst point avg EPA limit
HFPO-DA
GenX (HFPO-DA)		 4 of 4 10.1 ppt 8.3 ppt 10 ppt
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid		 4 of 4 6.2 ppt 5.6 ppt 4 ppt
PFPeA
Perfluoropentanoic acid		 4 of 4 4.8 ppt 4.2 ppt none
PFHxA
Perfluorohexanoic acid		 4 of 4 4.5 ppt 4.0 ppt none
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid		 2 of 4 4.4 ppt 2.1 ppt 4 ppt

Not detected: PFMBA, PFPeS, PFEESA, NFDHA, PFHpS, PFTA, PFTrDA, NMeFOSAA, PFMPA, PFDoA, NEtFOSAA, PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFUnA, PFDA, 8:2 FTS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, PFBA, 6:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS.

Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.

What the EPA limits mean here

In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.

Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.

What you can do at home

Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.

Other systems in South Carolina

All 165 tested systems in South Carolina

ZIP codes served

29053 29072 29073 29123 29170

As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.

Cite this page

Well & Tap. "PFAS in Joint Municipal WSC (3220003) water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID SC3220003. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/south-carolina/joint-municipal-wsc-3220003/

About this data

Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID SC3220003). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.