DEQ-CFW_00022693

Michael S. Regan, Secretary
.En viron men ta.1
Quality
Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Chris Mackey, Jamie Kritzer
Date: July 14, 2017 Phone: [phone]
State releases first water quality data, health information for GenX in Cape Fear River
RALEIG — State officials today released the 4fst results of water quality $an
compound GenX in the Cape Fear River. These first drinking water outcomes I
CONCLUsion.
The findings reflect water quality data from samples collected at 12 sites in the
June 19 and June 29. Results show higher concentrations near the point where
facility was discharging the unregulated compound into the Cape Fear River, NA
public water supply systems near the facility and 70 miles downstream in the V
State public health officials with the N.C. Depz
consumers of the water and FOUND xxxx Coi
results were collected from Chemours' facility.
2
for concentrations of the
, ettcv lle and Wilmington areas between
mours' Fayetteville manufacturing
much lower figures observed at the
th and Hunan Services, conducted a health risk for
GenX represented a significant decrease the farther away
sure to GenX when, at the urging of state and local officials as well as
diverting wastewater containing the contaminant into storage
ronmental Protection Agency lab in Research Triangle Park and at Test America, a
to Chemours. The June 29 data from the EPA's lab and Test America's lab in
Its of treated water in all but one facility were within the DHHS' health risk goal
For example, the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority's treated water results were 110 parts per trillion (Test America
samples) and 100 parts per trillion (EPA samples). Other test results for treated water are as follows: Northwest Brunswick
Water Treatment Plant: 51 parts per trillion (Test America) and 52 parts per trillion (EPA); Wrightsville Beach Well No.
11: 24 parts per trillion (Test America) and 28 parts per trillion (EPA); Bladen Bluffs treated water: 76 (Test America) and
results were not available for EPA; International Paper treated: 140 parts per trillion (Test America) and l l 1 parts per
trillion (EPA). Treated water from Pender County 421 Water Treatment Plant had the only value above DHHS' health risk
goal, as Test America lab results showed GenX at 160 parts per trillion (Test America). However, EPA's lab results for
samples taken at that same time were 112 parts per trillion (EPA).
Results from all 12 test sites for the first two weeks of water sampling can be found on the N.C. Department of
Environmental Quality's GenX website: https:Hdeq.nc.gov/news/hot-topics/genx-investigation/genx-sampling-sites.
State officials caution against comparing raw and finished drinking water values from same -day samples, as water that had
completed a treatment cycle would have started the process with an earlier, and potentially different, exposure to GenX.
While little is known about GenX, these data indicate that the preliminary DHHS assessment
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DEQ-CFW 00022693

remains accurate. Today's decision was based on consultation with EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Ongoing discussions will apply guidance from leading federal researchers of emerging contaminants to help
state officials provide the public with the best information available on potential health risks posed by GenX.
Some local utilities and governments also are conducting independent water sampling. Since the protocols in place for
these samplings and related analysis may are not be consistent with the n'-garou-s DEQ and D11115 practices, they are not
being factored into the state's health risk assessment.
The results of more recent water samples collected in the Cape Fear will be released after DEQ and DHHS officials have
validated the data and conducted a health risk assessment. Officials have been collecting water samples at multiple
locations in the Fayetteville and Wilmington areas each week since June 19 and will continue sampling until at least late
July. DEQ officials have extended the state's sampling regimen from three -to -six weeks to provide a more comprehensive
understanding of GenX concentrations in the lower Cape Fear River.
For the state process, DEQ staff collect water samples and provide:
equal „oi4io TestAmerica and the EPA lab. Staff at each lab t(
to DEQ for quality assurance and quality ^^ review to ensure,.
DHHS, which performs a health risk analysis.
State officials have developed frequently asked questions about the health
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the presence of GenX, then send reports
c, vetted results are then provided to
to GenX. It can be found at:
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1601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601 RSS feed: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/opa/news-releases-
rss
Twitter: http://twitter.com/NCDENR
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
DEQ-CFW 00022694