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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDEQ-CFW_00084597Investigation 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 June. The Chemours facility in Fayetteville was identified as the company that produces the GenX chemical for industrial processes. As part of the state's investigation, DEQ began collecting water samples from multiple sites along the Cape Fear River, with additional samples collected throughout the region. Those samples were analyzed at two certified labs. Thanks to the state's investigation, the release to the Cape Fear River of GenX and two other fluorinated compounds has stopped, water quality for these compounds 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. Groundwater monitoring well sampling at Chemours facility As part of the state's investigation, DEQ staff sampled the facility's onsite groundwater monitoring wells to determine the effect of the discharge on the groundwater. These onsite wells are not used for drinking water. 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 on Sept. 15 to start sampling the private drinking wells of people living adjacent to the plant's property. 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 the site into wells used for drinking. The state plans to test for the presence of GenX and two other fluorinated compounds with established health goals. Results are expected in several weeks. When the state receives these results, staff will determine our agency's next steps, including if additional wells further from the facility's perimeter need to be sampled. Groundwater sampling results at Chemours' facility Results of water samples collected in the industrial, non -drinking water wells at the Chemours facility can be found online at: https://files.nc.gov/ncdeq/GenX/GenX`/"20Saiiipling`/"2OMap`/"2020170906-3.pdf. Other private well sampling Chemours has informed the state that the company has implemented its own sampling plan of drinking water wells within one mile of the facility. Homeowners who live outside the initial one -mile sampling area can request that the company sample their well. Also, Chemours has informed the state that it is offering bottled water to people living within a one -mile radius of the facility. People who wish can visit the Chemours facility to get bottled water. Other requests for well sampling and bottled water should be directed to Ken Stewart (704-600-5746) or Sonya Vargas (910-678-1257) to request that the company sample their drinking water wells and ask for bottled water. More information NCDEQ has information regarding the GenX investigation on its website, https://deq.nc.gov/iiews/hot-topics/genx- investigation. DEQ-CFW-00084597