Greenville
Greenville, SC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
greenville water (2310001)
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID SC2310001
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 64,579 residents, Greenville ranks as the 6th-largest city in South Carolina and a small but growing city. Water in Greenville is sourced chiefly from rivers, reservoirs, and coastal aquifers, the backbone of South Carolina's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: saltwater intrusion. Fast Lowcountry growth around Charleston pressures coastal aquifers and reuse planning.
Statewide, South Carolina recycles about 7% of its wastewater with developing reuse programs. Locally, Greenville faces severe to extreme drought conditions.
The South Carolina state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Greenville's water future.
Greenville County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~64,579 (6th-largest in South Carolina)
- Primary sources: rivers, reservoirs, and coastal aquifers
- Drought: severe to extreme conditions
- State reuse rate: ~7% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of South Carolina in severe+ drought (Extreme (D3) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Greenville?
Greenville's largest water system, GREENVILLE WATER (2310001), serves about 396,265 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Greenville get its water?
GREENVILLE WATER (2310001) draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of South Carolina's supply from rivers, reservoirs, coastal aquifers.
Related water issues
Saltwater Intrusion
As coastal aquifers are over-pumped and seas rise, saltwater pushes inland and contaminates freshwater supplies for cities from Florida to California.
ExploreAging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExploreAgricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
Explore