The City of Clemson has completed its annual Water Quality Report, also known as a Consumer Confidence Report, for Calendar Year 2023. The Anderson Regional Joint Water System is our water source, and this water quality report explains our tests results and other facts about our drinking water.

We perform continuous testing on City water to assure it meets all state and federal standards. This annual report shows that the City of Clemson’s drinking water met or exceeded these standards in 2023.

Download the full water quality report.

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires many actions to protect drinking water and its sources -rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells. SDWA authorizes the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to set national health-based standards for drinking water to protect against both naturally-occurring and man-made contaminants that may be found in drinking water. The US EPA, state entities, and water systems then work together to make sure that these standards are met. 

Backflow Prevention

A Cross Connection occurs when your drinking water and another source of water combine as a result of a backflow condition. 

Backflow is when the water in your pipes (the pipes after the water meter) goes backward (the opposite direction from its normal flow). 

Backflow and Cross Connection could result in contamination of your drinking water via pollutants, contaminants, and system or plumbing hazards. This includes, but is not limited to, fire protection systems, irrigation systems, gasoline refineries and stations, restaurants, hospitals, and manufacturers. This contamination can cause sickness or even death. 

To keep your drinking water safe, the City of Clemson Utilities Department checks the plans of each new business for compliance with cross connection/backflow requirements. 

Causes of Backflow:

1. Backpressure – the pressure in your pipes is greater than the pressure coming in.
2. Backsiphonage – a negative pressure in one of the pipes.

To protect the water system, two kinds of backflow prevention assemblies  are required for all business customers that present a potential hazard to the water system:

1.  External assemblies protect the water system from cross connection with the water on the customer’s premises.
2.  Internal assemblies protect the customer from potentially hazardous cross connections within the customer’s  own system.

Learn more about Backflow Prevention

Water Line Flushing

Water mains are sized to allow adequate and safe flows for fire protection. Water typically is moving through the underground pipelines at less than 2 miles per hour. This slow movement can cause corrosion (i.e. rust and mineral particles) to build up over time and accumulate along the pipe. This corrosion can cause the chlorine residual to degrade thus raising the possibility of a bacteriological problem. This buildup can restrict water flow in the pipes and contribute to corrosion and water color problems.

To combat and prevent this buildup, the City of Clemson Utilities Department conducts a comprehensive water line flushing program to maintain a “chlorine residual” throughout the water system. Flushing is a process that rapidly removes water from the City’s water piping system using water force to scour out materials that may accumulate in the pipes. Water pipes are normally flushed by opening fire hydrants or pipeline “blow-offs.”

Learn more about Water Line Flushing

The City of Clemson uses Sensus IPERL water meters, as pictured in the diagram to the left. 

Residents can utilize this information to determine their water usage during any specified time. 

Separate irrigation accounts are ideal for those who farm, water their lawns, garden, or fill swimming pools on occasion. Water used outdoors for these purposes does not flow into the public sewer system for wastewater treatment.

If you are frequently using a large amount of water outside but running it on the same meter as your indoor water usage, you are paying unnecessary sewer costs on all water used outside. With a separate irrigation account, you will only pay wastewater charges on water used indoors, not water used outdoors. 

Contact the Utility Billing Administration division at (864) 653-2035 for more information or to apply for an irrigation meter. 

Checking for Water Leaks

1. Turn off all water-using appliances so no water is being used.
   Turn off all water - inside and outside. If you have an automatic irrigation system, turn off the controller.
   
   
2. Locate your meter box and examine the dial.
   The meter box is generally located near the sidewalk in front of your home in a direct line with the main outside faucet. Carefully use a tool to remove the meter box lid, then stand back to allow any “critters” to get out of the way.
   
   The meter measures water use in thousands of gallons. The small pointer or dial near the center of the meter is the flow indicator and should not move if you are not using any water inside or outside the home. 
   
   You may have a leak if:
   The flow indicator is moving and no water in use.
   The meter has no indicator but the dial hand is moving.
   You note the position of the hand then check back after 10 minutes and the hand has moved.
   
   If no movement is recorded, you probably don’t have a leak.
   
   
3. To isolate the leak, turn off the water to your house.
   Your home’s valve is usually located under the outside faucet near the front of the house or under the house. With all water turned off in the house, there should be no movement of the small pointer or any of the dials on the meter.
   
   If the leak indicator or dial hand is still moving, water is flowing between the meter and the shut-off valve, which means you may have a leak in the service line (between the meter and the valve where water enters your home).
   
   Remember that movement in your meter may be caused by things like an automatic pool valve or leaking irrigation valve.
   
   
4. Check your irrigation system.
   Manually turn on your controller and walk your property looking for broken sprinkler heads, missing spray heads, or breaks in irrigation piping or tubing.
   
   
5. Check for toilet leaks.
   Add 2 or 3 drops of food coloring to the water in the reservoir or tank. Wait 15 to 30 minutes. If the water in the bowl changes colors, the rubber flapper needs to be replaced. 

Reporting Water Leaks

The Utilities Department maintains all water mains in the street rights-of-way of the City. This includes all water mains and services in the street rights-of-way up to the water meter on private property. From the meter to and around the privately owned property, water lines are the responsibility of the customer.

Customer Water Lines

If pipes are broken on the customer's side of the water meter, the pipe must be repaired by the property owner or by a plumber hired by the property owner. 

In case of emergency requiring water to be shut off (to stop damage and/or to make a repair), contact the City and personnel will be dispatched to shut off the water.

City Lines and Water Mains

If you observe a broken water main, water running from the ground or paved surface, or a leaking fire hydrant, please contact the City immediately for personnel to be dispatched to check the problem.  

Broken or Leaking Water Meter or Damaged Meter Box

If water is leaking from your water meter, contact the Utilities Department, and a crew will be dispatched to assess and correct the problem.

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The City of Clemson is introduced a Lead Service Line Management Program in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ruling aimed at reducing the risk of lead in American drinking water. This federal mandate requires all water systems in the United States to verify the material of every water service line in its system. 

After assessing all privately owned water lines, the City found NO LEAD WATER LINES.