South Carolina, the Palmetto State, is blessed with a vast network of beautiful freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams that form the backbone of our recreation and drinking water supply. Yet, beneath the surface of these inviting waters lie a variety of health and environmental hazards that demand our continuous attention and proactive management. From the extremely rare but fatal “brain-eating amoeba” to pervasive issues of chemical and mineral contamination, water safety is a complex, year-round concern for every resident.
The Invisible Killer: Naegleria fowleri
The most alarming, though statistically rare, hazard is the presence of Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba.” This single-celled organism naturally inhabits warm freshwater bodies, and its activity increases dramatically during the hot summer months (typically July, August, and September) when water temperatures are at their highest.
While the infection, Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), is extremely rare—South Carolina has seen a small number of cases over the last decade, including a recent, tragic fatality—it is nearly always fatal [Source 1.3, 3.1, 3.2]. It is crucial to understand that infection occurs when water containing the amoeba is forcefully introduced into the nose, allowing it to travel to the brain. You cannot be infected by simply drinking the water [Source 1.1, 1.3].
Simple Precautions Save Lives:
▪︎ Avoid Submerging Your Head: In warm freshwater during high-risk summer months.
▪︎ Use Nose Clips: When swimming, jumping, or diving in lakes and rivers to prevent water from entering the nasal passages [Source 1.1, 1.4].
▪︎ Do Not Stir Up Sediment: The amoeba can live in the mud at the bottom of a lake or river [Source 1.1, 1.5].
The Pervasive Threat: Mineral, Chemical, and Industrial Concerns
Beyond the immediate, acute threat of biological agents like Naegleria fowleri, South Carolina faces chronic water quality challenges stemming from environmental and industrial factors that can affect both public and private water supplies.
Natural and Man-Made Contaminants: Public water systems, regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), regularly test for contaminants like arsenic, nitrate, and radium (from natural deposits) alongside man-made substances such as disinfection byproducts and various industrial chemicals [Source 2.1, 2.2].
Lead and Aging Infrastructure: While many utilities actively test, the risk of elevated lead levels remains, primarily due to the corrosion of older service lines and household plumbing, posing a serious health risk, especially to pregnant women and young children [Source 2.2, 2.4, 4.3].
Hard Water and Esthetic Issues: High concentrations of minerals, which cause “hard water,” are not typically a health hazard but can lead to chalky scale buildup and reduced efficiency in plumbing and water heaters. Similarly, elevated iron or manganese can cause a metallic taste and staining, while chlorides or sodium may impart a salty taste [Source 2.4].
Industrial Runoff and Coal Ash: A major environmental concern is the legacy of industrial pollution. Coal ash, the toxic byproduct of burning coal, has contaminated groundwater at several sites across the state with heavy metals like arsenic and lithium [Source 2.5]. Furthermore, agricultural and urban runoff introduces pesticides and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), which can fuel harmful algae blooms in lakes and rivers, reducing water quality and dissolved oxygen levels for aquatic life [Source 2.3].
What Must Be Done: A Shared Responsibility
Protecting South Carolina’s water requires a collaborative effort from state agencies, utilities, and individual citizens.
Increased Public Awareness: State and local health departments must ensure that warnings and preventative measures for Naegleria fowleri are widely disseminated, especially during peak summer months.
Private Well Testing: Residents who rely on private wells—who are responsible for their own water quality—must be encouraged and educated to test their water regularly for bacteria, nitrates, and other local contaminants [Source 2.1].
Infrastructure Investment: Ongoing efforts to replace lead service lines and upgrade aging water treatment and distribution systems are critical to eliminating threats at the tap.
Source Water Protection: Regulating and mitigating pollution from industrial sites, particularly the cleanup of existing coal ash sites, and controlling agricultural and urban runoff are essential to protecting the source waters—our lakes, rivers, and groundwater—before treatment even begins [Source 2.1, 2.5].
The health and economic vitality of South Carolina are tied directly to the quality of its water. While our water quality is generally sound and highly regulated, a proactive, informed, and vigilant public is the most powerful defense against both the rare and the routine hazards lurking in our state’s most precious natural resource.
● Sources Cited
South Carolina Department of Public Health. Naegleria fowleri ameba. [Source 1.1]
News Report. Health officials confirm fatal case of brain-eating amoeba in South Carolina. [Source 1.3]
South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES). Drinking Water Quality. [Source 2.1]
Town of Chapin, SC. 2023 Water Quality Report. [Source 2.2]
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FACT SHEET. [Source 2.3]
South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES). Concerns with Drinking Water. [Source 2.4]
Earthjustice. Toxic Coal Ash in South Carolina: Addressing Coal Plants’ Hazardous Legacy. [Source 2.5]
Prisma Health & SCDPH Report. Patient dies of brain-eating amoeba in South Carolina. [Source 3.2]
City of Columbia Water. Water Quality and Testing. [Source 4.3]