Greenwood County, CPW, and LCWSC Confirm Drinking Water Safe Amid Lake Greenwood Fish Kill
May 4, 2026
Greenwood County, the Greenwood Commissioners of Public Works (CPW), and the Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission (LCWSC) are working together to address public concerns surrounding drinking water in Lake Greenwood.
Lake Greenwood serves as a water supply source for Greenwood CPW and LCWSC. Both utilities, along with Greenwood County, want to reassure customers that their treated, or finished, drinking water meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards and have continued to maintain that standard during the recent fish kill event.
“We understand concerns about recent conditions in the lake,” said Jeff Meredith, Greenwood CPW General Manager. “We want to reassure our customers that the water we treat and deliver meets all state and federal drinking water standards. Our team closely monitors the raw water coming into our plant every day and adjusts our treatment process as needed to maintain consistent, high-quality drinking water.”
Both Greenwood CPW and LCWSC conduct routine and rigorous water quality testing at multiple stages of the treatment process. This includes continuous monitoring of source water conditions in Lake Greenwood, as well as frequent sampling and testing of treated water before it enters the distribution system.
“Testing and monitoring water quality is what our team of state-certified water treatment operators are trained to do,” said Max Hughes, LCWSC Water Production Manager. “Our treatment facility is staffed 24/7/365 by licensed professionals who continuously monitor and test our water in our certified laboratory to ensure compliance with DES and EPA standards. Throughout this event, all finished water samples have remained within normal ranges, and LCWSC customers can feel confident in their drinking water.”
That commitment is supported by extensive monitoring and testing at every stage of the treatment process utilities. “If our water were ever to fall short of state or federal standards,” explained Meredith, “we are required to promptly notify our customers with clear information and guidance.”
LCWSC leadership emphasized that this level of diligence and operational oversight is standard practice and
central to maintaining public confidence in the water system. “We are proud of the professionalism and dedication of our water production team,” added Jeff Field, LCWSC Executive Director. “Their training, experience, and around-the-clock commitment are central to our mission of providing safe, reliable water service to the communities we serve.”
Meredith added, “Our commitment is reflected in our participation in the Partnership for Safe Water, a collaborative program led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and leading water industry organizations. Greenwood CPW was the fourth utility in the nation and the first in South Carolina to receive the Phase IV Excellence in Water Treatment Award. This June, we will be recognized with the Phase IV 20-Year Excellence in Water Treatment Award, reflecting 20 consecutive years of maintaining top-tier, fully optimized treatment performance. While this recognition highlights the past two decades, our commitment to delivering high-quality drinking water began long before the Partnership program and continues every day.
“We are grateful to have such trusted partners in Greenwood CPW and LCWSC,” said Greenwood County Manager Toby Chappell. “Their expertise and dedication give us strong faith and confidence in the work they do every day to deliver reliable, high-quality water service to our community.”
Greenwood County, Greenwood CPW, and LCWSC remain committed to transparency, public health, and service to our residents and customers.
