Lake · Kershaw County · SC
Is Wateree Lake safe to swim?
No advisory or algae bloom reported for this water today.
Updated August 20, 2026 · EPA CyAN satellite
No bacteria advisory or sampling for this water.
No blue-green algae bloom detected in the latest clear satellite image. This is a satellite estimate, not a safety guarantee, and does not replace an official advisory.
SwimZone for iPhone · launching soon
Wateree Lake is clear today. Be the first to know when it's not.
SwimZone checks this water every day and pings you the moment a bacteria or algae advisory goes up.
What's in the water at Wateree Lake right now
As of August 20, 2026, Wateree Lake in Kershaw County, South Carolina has no advisory posted. EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom in the latest clear image (August 19, 2026), which is an estimate, not a guarantee. Modeled rainfall over the past week was about 0.0 in (Open-Meteo, a gridded estimate that can differ from a local gauge), which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.
Blue-green algae at Wateree Lake
Wateree Lake is a lake in Kershaw County, South Carolina covering about 18.4 sq mi, the 6th-largest of the 16 lakes SwimZone monitors in South Carolina. EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom in the latest clear image (August 19, 2026), which is an estimate, not a guarantee. Larger, warmer waters like this can hold a bloom for weeks once nutrients and calm weather line up.
Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are most common from midsummer into early fall, when the water is warm, calm, and rich in nutrients from runoff. They can produce toxins that make people sick and can be rapidly fatal to dogs, so skip water that looks green, scummy, or like spilled paint, and keep children and pets out of it.
Bloom history at Wateree Lake
From EPA CyAN's satellite archive
Each bar is that summer's peak EPA CyAN satellite estimate (log scale); the red cap is the part above the bloom-level threshold. Satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories.
Over 7 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2020, Wateree Lake has shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal in 5 of them, most recently in August 2025. It shows a bloom-level signal most summers. Its highest satellite estimate was about 320,000 cells/mL in August 2024. These are satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories; check your state or county health department for official status.
When to swim at Wateree Lake
It is currently peak season for blue-green algae, when warm, calm water lets blooms form fastest. This lake has bloomed in most monitored summers (5 of 7), historically peaking around August. Early summer, before the water fully warms, has generally been the safer window here; check the current read before you go either way.
Frequently asked: swimming in Wateree Lake
- Is it safe to swim in Wateree Lake right now?
- Wateree Lake has no advisory posted today. EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom in the latest clear image (August 19, 2026), which is an estimate, not a guarantee. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.
- Does Wateree Lake have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
- EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom at Wateree Lake in the latest clear image (August 19, 2026). This is a satellite estimate below the sensor's detection limit, not a guarantee: cyanobacteria can appear within hours in warm, calm, nutrient-rich water, so look before you swim.
- Can dogs swim in Wateree Lake?
- No bloom is detected at Wateree Lake today, but dogs are much more vulnerable to blue-green algae than people, and blooms can form within hours. Always keep dogs away from water that looks green, scummy, or discolored, and rinse them off after swimming.
- How often does Wateree Lake have blue-green algae blooms?
- Over 7 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2020, Wateree Lake has shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal in 5 of them, most recently in August 2025. It shows a bloom-level signal most summers. Its highest satellite estimate was about 320,000 cells/mL in August 2024. These are satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories; check your state or county health department for official status.
- How many South Carolina lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?
- Today, 0 South Carolina waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 11 more warrant caution, out of 36 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
- How is Wateree Lake's water quality measured?
- SwimZone builds this read from EPA CyAN satellite imagery for blue-green algae, official beach and fecal-bacteria advisories where a program monitors Wateree Lake, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated August 20, 2026.
Before you swim: the basics
Swim spots near Wateree Lake
All South Carolina →Of the 6 monitored waters nearest Wateree Lake, 2 are flagged today.
| Water | Distance | Today | Algae read | Sampled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek ReservoirReservoir · Lancaster County | 10 mi | No advisory | None detected | Aug 19 |
| Fishing Creek ReservoirReservoir · Lancaster County | 16 mi | Use caution | Possible bloom | Aug 19 |
| Monticello ReservoirReservoir · Fairfield County | 29 mi | Use caution | Elevated | Aug 19 |
| Parr Shoals ReservoirReservoir · Newberry County | 32 mi | No advisory | None detected | Jul 21 |
| Lake RobinsonLake · Chesterfield County | 37 mi | No advisory | None detected | Aug 19 |
| Lake MurrayLake · Lexington County | 40 mi | No advisory | None detected | Aug 19 |