Greenwood Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
202.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.27
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Greenwood, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Greenwood | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -26% |
| Washing Machine | 9.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -17% |
| Water Heater | 11.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -23% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Greenwood compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Greenwood, South Carolina | 99.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Simpsonville, South Carolina | 92.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Anderson, South Carolina | 63 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Mauldin, South Carolina | 129.5 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Five Forks, South Carolina | 123 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Greenwood compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Greenwood | 99.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Greenwood's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Greenwood, South Carolina, in Greenwood County in the western South Carolina Piedmont — a regional manufacturing and medical services hub on the Saluda River corridor and home to Lander University — receives its municipal water from the Greenwood Metropolitan District Water Division, drawing from Lake Greenwood — a large impoundment on the Saluda River created by the Lake Greenwood Dam in 1940 for hydroelectric power and water supply. Lake Greenwood provides the primary drinking water source for the Greenwood County metro area.
The moderately soft 99.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 202.8 mg/L reflect the Saluda River watershed's crystalline South Carolina Piedmont geology. The Saluda River originates in the Blue Ridge Province of Greenville and Pickens counties and flows southeast through the South Carolina Inner Piedmont — a terrane of Precambrian Grenville-age gneisses and migmatites, Paleozoic metavolcanic rocks (Carolina Superterrane), and intrusive granites all with very limited soluble carbonate content. Lake Greenwood's watershed produces characteristically soft water typical of South Carolina's Piedmont reservoir systems.
At 99.5 mg/L, Greenwood's water is moderately soft — comfortable and appliance-friendly for this Piedmont city. Scale forms slowly in kettles and appliances over months, soap lathers well, and the dishwasher produces clean results without special treatment. Semi-annual descaling of heating appliances is adequate. The PFAS level of 5.6 ppt is moderate for a South Carolina Piedmont community — Greenwood County's textile manufacturing heritage and the broader South Carolina military presence contribute to the regional PFAS background, though Greenwood's levels remain below the higher PFAS concentrations found in communities closer to military training ranges in the upstate corridor.
Geology & Source: Greenwood in Greenwood County draws from the City of Greenwood water system on Lake Greenwood (Saluda River) — the Saluda River watershed drains the South Carolina Piedmont Province over Precambrian gneiss, schist, and Paleozoic volcanic rocks with limited carbonate content — crystalline Piedmont reservoir drainage produces moderately soft water at 99.5 mg/L in this western South Carolina community.