CFPUA Receives Data Showing High Levels of GenX at the Chemours Outfall 002
This afternoon, CFPUA received an email from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) containing data from recent samples for GenX from Chemours Outfall 002. The data shows that, on December 11, 2017, levels of GenX were measured at 2,300 parts per trillion (ppt)—significantly above the health goal of 140 ppt set by the Department of Health and Human Services. On December 21, levels were measured at 740 ppt.
In November, NCDEQ required Chemours to stop discharging wastewater containing GenX into the Cape Fear River. However, a number of spills have been detected through consistent sampling by NCDEQ, EPA, CFPUA, and UNCW. CFPUA is currently operating a pilot test to investigate the potential to remove compounds such as GenX from the water.
These recent results suggest we cannot rely on Chemours to control discharges from its site. Sweeney Water Treatment Plant is currently unable to filter the compounds from the drinking water—underscoring the importance of strict regulatory action and discharge control at the state level.
CFPUA will continue its weekly sampling of the finished water at Sweeney Water Treatment Plant and will make those results available to the public as they come in.