DEQ-CFW_00084443

Investigation Background
The N.C. departments of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Health and Human Services (DHHS) began
investigating the presence of a compound known as GenX in the Cape Fear River in mid -June 2017. The Chemours
facility in Fayetteville was identified as the company that produces the GenX chemical for industrial processes.
Immediately, DEQ began collecting water samples from multiple sites along the Cape Fear River, with additional
samples collected throughout the region. Those samples were sent and analyzed at two separate labs: Test America
in Colorado and the Environmental Protection Agency's lab in the Research Triangle Park.
Thanks to the state's investigation, the release of GenX and two other fluorinated compounds to the Cape Fear River has
stopped, water quality at all finished drinking water sites is well within state health goals, and the state is developing
better information needed to protect North Carolina's water quality and public health.
Onsite Groundwater Monitoring Well Sampling
As part of the state's investigation, DEQ staff sampled 16 of the facility's onsite groundwater monitoring wells to
determine the effect of the discharge on the groundwater. These onsite wells are not used as drinking water sources,
but instead for environmental monitoring. The samples were sent to a certified laboratory in Charleston, S.C., and
analyzed for GenX and other fluorinated compounds. At the same time, the EPA and Chemours took samples from
the same wells and sent them to separate laboratories for analysis. Results showed high levels of GenX in 13 of the
14 monitoring wells.
Private Drinking Water Well Sampling and Future Actions
The state's environmental staff plans this week to start sampling people's wells because it is always a concern when
contamination in groundwater near private drinking wells is identified. People living near the Chemours facility
deserve to know about the safety of their well water, and the state is using its available resources to address the
safety of peoples' drinking water.
Testing private wells beyond the facility will show if any contamination has moved beyond site into wells used for
drinking. State environmental staff will begin to collect samples on Sept. 15, as part of the ongoing investigation into
the chemical GenX. The state will test drinking water wells on residential properties adjacent to the facility. Testing
will be done to identify whether any contaminates are in people's drinking wells and whether the groundwater plume
is migrating in a certain direction. When the state receives these results, which Will take two to four weeks, staff will
determine if additional wells farther out from the facility's perimeter need to be sampled.
The results the state receives will help determine what the state's next steps.
Water sampling results
Results as well as information about GenX and sampling locations can be found online at the web page DEQ
developed for GenX at: https://deq.nc.gov/news/hot-topics/genx-investigation/genx-sampling-sites.
Other private well sampling
Chemours has implemented its own sampling plan of drinking water wells within one mile of the facility. People
within that one -mile radius may go to the Chemours facility to get bottled water. Homeowners who live outside the
initial one -mile sampling area can request that the company sample their drinking water well and ask for bottled
water; however, those requests must go to the facility.
Where can I find more information?
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has information regarding the GenX investigation on its website,
https://deq.nc.gov/news/hot-topics/genx-investigation.
DEQ-CFW-00084443