DEQ-CFW_00080750

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Michael S. Regan, Secretary
Release: PdMEDIATE Contact: Jamie Kritzer; Chris Mackey
Date: July 21, 2017 Phone: [phone]
GenX concentrations in treated water continue downward trend according to new data
State officials: people can continue drinking and using their water
RALEIGH — As part of an ongoing investigation, state officials today released new data for GenX concentrations in
water samples collected July 3 and 6 in the Cape Fear River.
Those test results show that concentrations of the unregulated chemical GenX in most treated water samples collected by
the state remained below the 140 parts per trillion health goal developed last week by the N.C. Department of Health and
Human Services. The health goal represents the concentration of GenX at which no adverse non -cancer health effects
would be anticipated over an entire lifetime of exposure to the most sensitive populations.
The concentrations of GenX have dropped significantly since the state's investigation prompted Chemours, the chemical's
manufacturer, to stop discharging GenX into the Cape Fear. Sampling is continuing at multiple locations in the river this
week and next week.
"The good news is that most recent testing results are showing levels of GenX trending downward to near or below our
health goal," said Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. "Based on what we're
seeing, we're advising that people can continue drinking and using their water. We are keeping a close eye on any trends
and, as we have been doing, will alert the public in timely fashion as we have new results to share."
Michael Regan, secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, added that his agency and staff at DHHS continue
to investigate.
"The first three weeks of data gathered as part of our investigation are encouraging, and we're continuing our
investigation to protect the health and safety of those who depend on the Cape Fear River for drinking water and other
uses," Secretary Regan said.
Chemours' wastewater discharge permit is up for renewal. DEQ staff are reviewing all topics relevant to regulating the
company's discharges and will not renew the permit while the investigation is underway.
As part of the state's investigation, DEQ this week also expanded the number of sites and frequency of its water sampling
regimen in the Cape Fear River. The state is now collecting water samples at 15 sites, up from 13 sites last week. DEQ
will also sample an additional two weeks, until at least the end of July. State officials will use test results to inform
decision making regarding firture sampling. Taking multiple samples from many locations will give the most accurate data
and help the state better understand how much GenX is currently in the river and provide more current data to help
evaluate potential health impacts.
Water samples drawn on July 3 in the Fayetteville area, including the Chemours manufacturing facility, and July 6 in the
Wilmington area show that all finished water sites have concentrations of GenX near or below the health goal of 140 parts
per trillion. State officials stress that some fluctuation in results is expected for measurements in the parts -per -trillion
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range. None of the finished water results so far have been substantially above the health goal, which is set at the most
conservative level.
Samples from some locations show elevated concentrations of GenX in raw water that reflect continued discharge by
Chemours in early July. At the state's request Chemours began diverting the main source of GenX away from the river
and into holding tanks on June 21. The waste is being sent out-of-state for incineration. The company later identified
other sources of GenX discharge at its facility and stopped those, which DEQ inspectors confirmed on July 13 during a
site visit.. DEQ plans to continue closely monitoring the Fayetteville facility.
DEQ expects to release another batch of water sampling results as soon as next week. DEQ is also working with the EPA
lab to test for concentrations of other compounds related to GenX also noted in a research paper published by Detlef
Knappe, the N.C. State researcher who worked with the EPA to identify GenX in the Cape Fear River.
DEQ has created a new map on its GenX web page to better illustrate the sample results. Results may be viewed at:
https://deq.nc.gov/news/hot-topics/genx-investigation/genx-sampling-sites. For information about the state's
investigation, you can check out the GenX web page at: https://deq.nc.gov/news/hot-topics/genx-investigation.
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DEQ-CFW 00080751