Rock Hill
Rock Hill, SC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
rock hill city of (sc4610002)
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID SC4610002
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 71,548 residents, Rock Hill ranks as the 5th-largest city in South Carolina and a small but growing city. Water in Rock Hill 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, Rock Hill faces severe to extreme drought conditions.
The South Carolina state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Rock Hill's water future.
York County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~71,548 (5th-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 Rock Hill?
Rock Hill's largest water system, ROCK HILL CITY OF (SC4610002), serves about 84,504 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 2 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Rock Hill get its water?
ROCK HILL CITY OF (SC4610002) 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