Saltwater Intrusion into Hilton Head’s Drinking Water
The Ongoing Water Quality Challenge on Hilton Head Island
After the most recent news about saltwater intrusion into Hilton Head Island’s drinking water, we wanted to help break it down. You can read the full story in The Island Packet here.
Hilton Head Island is surrounded by beautiful water, yet getting clean, great-tasting water from the tap has been a longstanding challenge for local homes. The island once relied heavily on the Floridan aquifer as its main source of drinking water. Over many decades, large industrial facilities in the Savannah area used enormous amounts of water from the same aquifer. That heavy usage changed the natural flow of groundwater under the region.
A Closer Look at Saltwater Intrusion in Hilton Head
Fresh groundwater traditionally moved beneath the island and flowed toward the ocean. As withdrawals increased, the direction of that flow shifted. Saltwater began to creep from the Port Royal Sound into the aquifer. This is known as saltwater intrusion. Over time, it compromised many of Hilton Head’s freshwater wells.
Local water utilities had to react quickly and on a large scale. They shifted to using water from the Savannah River and drilled into deeper aquifers to keep clean water available. These changes required many years of planning and large investments. More than $129 million has already been spent to protect and preserve the island’s water supply, with additional investments expected moving forward.
Even though recent industrial reductions have helped improve groundwater levels, the core issue has not fully resolved. The result for homeowners is that the taste and quality of water can vary across the island. Some homes may notice salty or metallic taste, mineral buildup on fixtures, dry skin after showering, or cloudy ice. Other homes may not notice much change at all, but the underlying water supply continues to face long-term pressure.
What That Means for Homeowners on Hilton Head Island
Water plays a role in everything at home. Drinking. Cooking. Showering. Washing clothes. Cleaning. When the water source is inconsistent or contains elevated minerals and impurities, it affects daily life. This is especially noticeable during seasonal changes, high water usage months, or when the local supply shifts among wells and processing facilities.
Many homeowners try to address water issues with refrigerator filters, pitcher filters, faucet attachments, or showerhead filters. These can provide small improvements in specific places, but they do not solve the root problem. When the water coming into your home is already compromised, the entire system needs support from the source.
A Local Solution for Local Hilton Head Water Issues
Pure Way Lowcountry provides whole-home water purification systems designed specifically with the Lowcountry’s water challenges in mind. Our systems treat every drop of water as it enters your home. That means clean, great-tasting, purified water from every tap, for drinking, bathing, cooking, laundry, and cleaning.
Pure Way Lowcountry is locally rooted and focused entirely on helping Hilton Head Island and the surrounding communities enjoy healthier, cleaner water.
We understand the region’s unique history with saltwater intrusion and aquifer changes. Our mission is to help homeowners gain peace of mind and confidence in their water again.
Ready to Taste the Difference in Your Home’s Water?
The best way to understand your water is to test it. We offer free in-home water analyses and consultations that show you exactly what is in your water and how our system can help.
Call us today to schedule your free water analysis and learn how Pure Way’s Next Generation Filters can bring pure peace of mind to your home.
