Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals that have been used worldwide in consumer and industrial products since the 1950s. PFAS compounds are unique in that they are both hydrophobic (repel water) and hydrophilic (can dissolve in water), and they repel oil and grease. These properties make them very useful in products like cookware, stain and water-resistant fabrics, paper coatings and  firefighting products.

The EPA lists thousands of individual PFAS compounds but we can only reliably analyze approximately 40 compounds. New test methods for a wider range of PFAS are being developed but have not been approved for use by our federal partners. 

PFAS have been referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ due to the chemistry of the strong carbon-fluorine bonds. These chemical bonds are not easily broken down, so many PFAS can last a very long time in the environment. 

• Some nonstick cookware
• Food packaging (microwave popcorn bags, fast food wrappers, pizza boxes)
• Cosmetics (lipstick, eye makeup, hair products)
• Water and stain resistant clothing, carpet, and some fabrics
• Dental floss 

SCDES Ways To Reduce Exposure flyer. 

PFAS have been detected in many drinking water sources all over the world and South Carolina is no different. If you are concerned about PFAS in your public water supply, contact your local provider.   

To apply for private drinking water well testing complete this application. SCDES staff will prioritize assessments based on aquifer vulnerability, well susceptibility, and proximity to known PFAS sources. If your well is selected for sampling following an initial evaluation, SCDES staff (or applicable contractors) will sample, test, and provide recommendations.  

Most bottled water is not tested for PFAS, though the USFDA has sampled bottled water from suppliers across the country and didn’t identify PFAS concentrations greater than the MCLs. SCDES currently has no recommendations regarding the use of bottled water. 

Because of the extensive use of PFAS compounds worldwide since the 1950s, PFAS have been detected in water, soil, sediment, and air. PFAS have even been detected in blood serum samples collected from wildlife in very remote areas, including polar bears in the Artic. 

Exposures to some PFAS are associated with a variety of health problems. New peer-reviewed scientific studies suggest that eating and drinking (ingestion) is the most likely way that humans get PFAS into their bodies.  

Also, research indicates that skin contact (showering, bathing, washing dishes and wearing clothes containing PFAS) does not pose a significant risk.  

Most of the scientific research has been performed on laboratory animals at much higher concentrations than people experience from environmental exposures.  

Chronic effects for drinking water are calculated for a lifetime of exposure (70 years), assumes that an adult will drink 2.5 liters of the impacted water per day, 365 days per year for 70 years.  

Information obtained from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) on PFAS compounds are listed below.  

• PFAS have been found in the liver, blood, kidney, testes, thyroid, and ovary.
• High levels of PFAS may lead to the following health effects:
  • Increased cholesterol levels
  • Decreased vaccine response in children
  • Changes in liver enzymes
  • Increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women
  • Small decreases in birth weight
  • Increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer 

SCDES’s focus has been on identifying where PFAS is found in our environment. To accomplish this we have undertaken several initiatives as outlined below.

SCDES developed strategies for determining the prevalence of PFAS in ambient surface waters, drinking water provided by South Carolina Public Water Systems, and drinking water provided by private wells.  

The Ambient Surface Water Strategy originally included analysis of samples from lakes, rivers, and streams across the State. As part of the testing, SCDES collected surface water samples from 107 locations, four times at each location, over one year. As part of this study, fish, oyster, and blue crab samples were also collected. An interactive map was created to display the results and other data, and the Ambient Surface Water Project Final Report was completed in December 2023. 

Based on the results of the ambient water testing, SCDES selected 40 representative locations around the state from the initial ambient water testing and is quarterly sampling for three to five years. 

For assistance with the map, please email PFASInfo@des.sc.gov and an SCDES representative will contact you. 

The Community Drinking Water Strategy included testing of South Carolina’s community water systems (CWS). The data was assessed by analyzing finished water at 583 treatment plants. 

The Private (Individual) Drinking Water Well Strategy describes the current sampling private drinking water wells. Sampling and analysis are done at no cost to the well owner. To apply for private drinking water well testing complete this application. SCDES staff will prioritize assessments based on aquifer vulnerability, well susceptibility, and proximity to known PFAS sources. If your well is selected for sampling following an initial evaluation, SCDES staff (or applicable contractors) will sample, test, and provide recommendations. If PFAS are detected, well owners may be eligible for installation of filtration technology or provided funding to connect to public water supply.  

SCDES is also overseeing or participating in the investigation and cleanup of numerous PFAS releases, some of which are described here.

The results of these efforts will determine our next steps. 

On May 14, 2025, the EPA announced its intent to revise the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Rule. SCDES is closely monitoring this process and will continue to keep our stakeholders informed of the latest developments.

Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES) is conducting toxicity assessments on additional PFAS compounds in conjunction with academia and industrial laboratories. This research is thorough, but it takes time to go through the processes. Much of the research is conducted on animals but human data is becoming more available. 

Consistent with EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap, the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule sampling (UCMR 5) will provide new data that EPA has determined are critically needed to improve their understanding of the frequency and level at which 29 PFAS (and lithium) are found in the nation’s drinking water systems. Public water systems that serve more than 10,000 persons must collect, analyze and report concentrations of the designated 29 PFAS analytes (and lithium) once per calendar quarter for four consecutive quarters. Some smaller systems, selected by EPA, will also be required to sample and report as part of the project. UCMR5 is scheduled by EPA for national implementation in 2023 through 2025. 

For more information regarding the EPA’s UCMR 5, click here. 

To view EPA’s first data set summary under UCMR 5, click here.

On May 14, 2025, the EPA announced its intent to revise the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Rule. SCDES is closely monitoring this process and will continue to keep our stakeholders informed of the latest developments.

On April 10, 2024 EPA announced maximum contaminant limits (MCLs) in drinking water for five PFAS compounds — PFOS and PFOA at 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt), and PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX at 10 ppt — as well as a Hazard Index formula for a mixture of four PFAS compounds: PFHxS, PFBS, PFNA, and GenX. These six compounds are the most studied by researchers worldwide and have sufficient data to confidently assess risk. A MCL is a maximum concentration of a contaminant that can be delivered to any user of a public water system The MCL is based in part on the concentration that the most sensitive person can be exposed to for a lifetime without experiencing a negative health effect. The announcement included a schedule for monitoring, communication, and implementation over five years.