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Following consistent tests results indicating no abnormalities in river water near its intakes on the Cape Fear River, CFPUA has resumed withdrawing water for treatment at Sweeney Water Treatment Plant.

CFPUA staff began monitoring water near intakes on the Cape Fear River early Wednesday after learning that a substance entered the river Tuesday afternoon from the Fayetteville Works industrial site in Bladen County. The decision to resume operations followed seven results from samples drawn between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. All samples indicated normal water-quality conditions at the intake.

CFPUA staff will continue regular water-quality monitoring.

Elizabeth A. Severt, CFPUA Environmental Program Manager, grabs a sample of Cape Fear River water on Wednesday.

CFPUA ceased withdrawing water from the Lower Cape Fear Water & Sewer Authority intake at Kings Bluff in Bladen County temporarily, starting about 8 a.m. Wednesday. CFPUA had stopped withdrawing water from its own intake at Kings Bluff late Tuesday. Withdrawals from both intakes were resuming about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Based on available information, CFPUA staff had estimated that 8 a.m. would be the soonest the substance might reach the intake, which is about 55 miles from the outfall at Fayetteville Works, which is owned by Chemours.

CFPUA’s drinking water storage facilities were full when withdrawals ceased, so customers were unaffected by the shutdown.

Regulators from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality contacted CFPUA about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday to say that a spill had been reported about 2:30 p.m. CFPUA staff worked through the night to learn more about the incident and take precautionary steps such as topping off its water storage facilities and putting in place contingency plans.

In conference calls Tuesday and Wednesday, Fayetteville Works Plant Manager Brian Long told CFPUA staff it was believed that about 30 gallons of a plasticizer leaked from Kuraray Americas, an industrial tenant at the site. Long said the material contained no PFAS. He also said that containment steps had been taken and that the spill had ceased and was no longer entering the Cape Fear River.

The Cape Fear River is the source of about 80 percent of the water CFPUA distributes. CFPUA customers served by groundwater are not affected. You can determine the source of your water here.

CFPUA thanks our customers for taking conservation steps to help the community successfully manage the temporary shutdown.

We will be working with regulators over the next several weeks to learn more about this incident and to ensure dischargers are held accountable for actions affecting water users downstream.