SCDES provides this information as an update on the initial response phase of the Healthcare SC facility fire. Once the initial response phase concludes, the comprehensive site investigation phase will begin. 

The environmental cleanup contractor hired by Healthcare SC continues to perform initial response action activities. Responding agencies are continuing to address community concerns. Please see specific updates below. 

• Facility Site 
  • Healthcare SC and Healthcare US have agreed to take action as outlined in the Interim Consent Agreement it entered into on Sept. 4, 2026. 
     
  • Healthcare SC continues to provide security for the facility.
     
  • Healthcare SC’s environmental cleanup contractor continues to use large tanker trucks to transport remaining water from the site to an out-of-state facility to be treated and disposed of properly.  
     

• Creek and Reservoir Status
  • Healthcare SC’s environmental cleanup contractor has removed the temporary dam in Mill Creek, and soils from the temporary dam are being properly stored at the facility pending sampling for final disposition.  
     

• Drinking Water Status
  • SCDES continues to work closely with the Town of Winnsboro, which is the drinking water provider for the community. The Town of Winnsboro monitors its drinking water for compliance with state and federal drinking water standards, and it has reported no readings indicating impacts to drinking water. 
     
  • As an additional layer of monitoring, SCDES collected samples of finished/treated drinking water from the Town of Winnsboro drinking water plant on two occasions. The first sample data results were provided in the Sept. 4 update and showed no exceedances of drinking water quality standards. This week, SCDES received the complete results from the second sample set – these results also show no exceedances of any drinking water quality standards:
     
    • Second sample data results
       

• The Town of Winnsboro’s historical drinking water quality data is available on the Drinking Water Watch online tool: Drinking Water Watch 

SCDES will continue to provide updates once the initial response efforts conclude and the comprehensive site investigation phase begin.     

SCDES provides this information as an update on the initial response phase of the facility fire. Once the initial response phase concludes, the comprehensive site investigation phase will begin.  

The environmental cleanup contractor hired by Healthcare SC continues to perform initial response action activities. Responding agencies continue to address community concerns. Please see specific updates below. 

Facility Site

• Healthcare SC continues to provide security for the facility.

• Healthcare SC’s environmental cleanup contractor has closed off drainage areas impacted by the fire and continues to have measures in place to contain and manage potentially affected water. The collected water is being transported in large tanker trucks to be treated and properly disposed of at the environmental cleanup contractor’s out-of-state facility. 

Creek and Reservoir Status

• A temporary dam was constructed in Mill Creek as an additional precautionary measure to help minimize potential impacts to the downstream drinking water reservoir during the initial emergency response.

• During the response efforts, SCDES collected environmental samples from Mill Creek at locations above and below the temporary dam and the reservoir. The sample results did not indicate any significantly elevated constituents:

  • Sediment sample results are available here. 

  • Surface water sample results are available here. 

• Healthcare SC’s environmental cleanup contractor has estimated the removal of 2.1 million gallons of water from the retention pond and creek upstream of the temporary dam using vacuum trucks and pumps. This water is being transported and disposed of at the environmental cleanup contractor’s out-of-state facility.

• Healthcare SC’s environmental cleanup contractor has begun removing the temporary dam today (Sept. 4), with precautions in place to help prevent sediment from impacting the creek.   

Drinking Water Status

• SCDES continues to work closely with the Town of Winnsboro, which is the drinking water provider for the community.

• As provided in the Aug. 28 update, SCDES and EPA collected water samples from the reservoir and the raw water intake, and sample results had no exceedances of drinking water quality standards.

• The Town of Winnsboro monitors its drinking water for compliance with state and federal drinking water standards, and it has reported no readings indicating impacts to drinking water provided to customers.

• As an additional layer of monitoring, SCDES collected samples of finished/treated drinking water from the Town of Winnsboro drinking water plant on two occasions. The sample data to date show no exceedances of any drinking water quality standards. Additional results will be posted as they are available.

  • First sample data results

• The Town of Winnsboro’s historical drinking water quality data is available on the Drinking Water Watch online tool: Drinking Water Watch  

SCDES will continue to provide updates once the initial response efforts conclude and the comprehensive site investigation phase begin.      

August 28 update 
As local firefighters worked to extinguish the facility fire, efforts were made to minimize potential impacts to nearby waterbodies including Mill Creek, which flows into the drinking water reservoir for the Town of Winnsboro (which provides drinking water to the community). Responding agencies have been addressing community concerns directly with residents and property owners. Please see specific updates below. 

Facility Site Status 

• Healthcare SC has secured the site.  

• Healthcare SC’s emergency environmental cleanup contractor has blocked all drainage pathways leading from the facility, and runoff and rainwater are being contained onsite. 

• The emergency environmental clean-up contractor continues to use large vacuum trucks and temporary storage tanks onsite to help contain runoff. The collected runoff will be disposed of safely.

Creek and Reservoir Status 

• A temporary dam was constructed in Mill Creek as an additional precautionary measure to help minimize potential impacts to the downstream drinking water reservoir. 

• Water and sediment samples were collected from Mill Creek and the drinking water reservoir. See this map for water and sediment sample collection locations. (Sample result data for water and sediment are in the sections below.)

• Mill Creek and reservoir water samples had no exceedances of drinking water quality standards. 

• Sediment sample results indicate no impacts of concern. Sediment sample results are available here. 

• The environmental clean-up contactor continues to use vacuum trucks to remove any remaining discolored water from headwaters and a tributary to Mill Creek.  

• Ongoing water removal also helps control water levels behind the temporary dam.  

• Additional precautionary measures are being deployed to address any remaining suspended sediments or discolored water. 

Drinking Water Status 

• SCDES continues to work closely with the Town of Winnsboro, which is the drinking water provider for the community.  

• The reservoir is substantial in size – approximately 198 acres – and the drinking water intake is located opposite of where Mill Creek flows into the reservoir. 

• SCDES and EPA collected water samples from the reservoir and the raw water intake, and sample results had no exceedances of water quality standards. Water sample results are available here.

• Public drinking water is monitored continually for compliance with state and federal drinking water standards, and there have been no readings indicating impacts to drinking water provided to customers.  

• There are no anticipated impacts to private drinking wells. 
   

SCDES also is working closely with Fairfield County and the Town of Winnsboro (the public drinking water utility that serves the community). Public drinking water is monitored continually for compliance with state and federal drinking water standards, and there have been no readings indicating impacts to drinking water provided to customers. There are no anticipated impacts to private drinking wells.

SCDA has been in direct communication with the produce farmers in the surrounding area to address individual concerns about potential impacts to crops from debris or water runoff from the facility fire. SCDA officials are providing specific information to these property owners based on their vicinity to the site and other factors.