Wells in and around Conway
Outside city and GSWSA service, many rural homes around Conway rely on private wells. Rural wells here can carry iron, sulfur and low pH, and wells near farmland are worth a lab test for nitrates.
Conway has seen serious river flooding, including after Hurricane Florence in 2018. A well that has been under floodwater should be disinfected and tested for bacteria before the water is used again.
Well or utility water?
Around Conway, water comes from several utilities:
- City of Conway serves homes inside city limits, with water purchased from GSWSA.
- Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority (GSWSA) serves much of western Horry County, including areas around Aynor and Green Sea.
- Town of Loris serves Loris, supplied from GSWSA's Bull Creek plant.
If none of these bill you for water, your home is most likely on a private well.
Who tests a private well?
In South Carolina, private well owners are responsible for their own water. SCDES and local health offices provide sample kits for bacteria and for metals and minerals, and fees apply (SCDES).
Our free in-home test covers iron, hardness, pH and dissolved solids on the spot. Bacteria, nitrates and PFAS need a certified lab, and we will walk you through those options.
Building the right treatment
Well systems are built in stages: sediment filtration, an oxidizing filter for iron and sulfur, a softener if the well is hard, UV if bacteria is a concern, and reverse osmosis for drinking water. Most wells need only some of them. Read about iron in well water, rotten-egg smells and what well treatment costs.
What happens at your free test
Your free test measures hardness, chlorine or chloramine, iron, pH and total dissolved solids at your tap, and you keep the written report. We recommend a treatment system only if your results call for it. How the free test works.
Where we work around Conway
We test homes across Conway, Aynor, Loris and the rest of western Horry County.
Sources
- GSWSA: Bull Creek Water Treatment Plant
- GSWSA: chloramine FAQ (chloramine is the primary disinfectant, since 1993)
- GSWSA: March 2026 flushing and free-chlorine notice, western Horry County
- City of Conway: annual switch from chloramines to free chlorine
- SCDES: well water quality testing services
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get my Conway well tested for bacteria?
SCDES and local health offices provide sample kits for bacteria and for metals and minerals, and fees apply. Our free in-home test covers iron, hardness, pH and dissolved solids.
How often should I test my well?
Public health guidance is to test a private well at least once a year for bacteria, and again after flooding, repairs, or any change in taste, smell or color.
Can a water softener fix iron?
Sometimes, for low levels of dissolved iron. Higher levels or iron bacteria need a dedicated iron filter.