Abbeville Mayor Alleges Possible Cancer Risk in Water, Records Show No Violations

City officials dispute mayor's claims, citing compliance with environmental regulations

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:08am

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A translucent, ghostly X-ray image of the internal structure of a water treatment plant filter, revealing its complex machinery in glowing blue lines against a dark background, conceptually representing the need for transparency and rigorous testing of municipal water systems.An X-ray view into the inner workings of Abbeville's water treatment system, which officials say meets all safety standards despite the mayor's unsubstantiated claims.Abbeville Today

The mayor of Abbeville, South Carolina has made allegations on social media about potential cancer risks in the city's water system, but records from the state's Department of Environmental Services show no recent violations or water quality issues. City officials are disputing the mayor's claims, stating the drinking water is safe and the water and wastewater systems do not interact in a way that could cause the alleged problem.

Why it matters

The mayor's allegations, if true, could have serious public health implications for Abbeville residents. However, the lack of evidence from state regulators and the city's own water quality reports suggest the mayor's claims may be unfounded, raising questions about the mayor's motivations and the potential for misinformation to spread on social media.

The details

According to Abbeville Deputy Administrative Officer Michael Clary, the city's drinking water comes from Lake Russell and is treated at the city's water plant before being distributed to residents and businesses. The wastewater treatment plant is a separate system that does not interact with the drinking water. Clary stated it would be "impossible" for an issue at the wastewater plant to impact the drinking water. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services confirmed their records show no recent violations related to Abbeville's water or wastewater systems, and all recent inspections have resulted in satisfactory ratings.

  • The mayor's allegations were posted on his Facebook page on April 3, 2026.
  • The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services conducted a Pre-treatment Audit on February 10, 2026 with no deficiencies identified.
  • A Compliance Sampling Inspection was completed on May 14, 2025, and the results were 'Satisfactory'.
  • The most recent water quality inspection (Sanitary Survey) was in January 2026, and all water quality items received a 'Satisfactory' rating.

The players

Trey Edwards

The mayor of Abbeville, South Carolina who made allegations about potential cancer risks in the city's water system on his Facebook page.

Michael Clary

The Abbeville Deputy Administrative Officer who disputed the mayor's claims, stating the city's drinking water is safe and in compliance with environmental regulations.

South Carolina Department of Environmental Services

The state agency that confirmed Abbeville's water and wastewater systems have no recent violations or water quality issues, contradicting the mayor's allegations.

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What they’re saying

“We don't know what the far-reaching implications of that kind of allegation could be.”

— Michael Clary, Abbeville Deputy Administrative Officer

“Lean on all of the data that we have to support that the city's drinking water is safe and it's clean.”

— Michael Clary, Abbeville Deputy Administrative Officer

What’s next

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services has stated they will continue to monitor Abbeville's water and wastewater systems to ensure compliance with all regulations. The city has also indicated they will work to address the mayor's concerns, though it remains unclear if he will retract his social media allegations in light of the lack of evidence supporting them.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential for elected officials to spread misinformation on social media, even when official data and regulatory oversight contradict their claims. It underscores the importance of verifying information, especially when it relates to public health and safety, before making such serious allegations that could cause undue panic in the community.