In the past week, a national dialogue on the presence of per-fluorinated compounds in drinking water systems across the United States has gained momentum.
On Thursday, May 24, Fortune Magazine published an online article, and corresponding video interviews, on the compound GenX. Kemp Burdette with Cape Fear River Watch, Jane Hoppin with NC State University and CFPUA Executive Director Jim Flechtner were featured, providing perspectives on the issue from environmental, public health, and water treatment experts.
The article followed a PFAS summit that was held May 22-23 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C., where CFPUA Director of Engineering, Carel Vandermeyden, presented on CFPUA efforts to monitor and treat for PFAS compounds. CFPUA was one of four utilities attending the summit and the only one that presented.
While the issue has been covered at the national level before, coverage on the topic is increasing as the EPA announced it will take action on GenX and the compounds that came before it, PFOA and PFOS. CFPUA will continue to participate in the national dialogue on these contaminants to share our experiences with other utilities and communities facing the same challenge and to call for the need for more effective regulatory control on emerging contaminants.
Clean Water Week Begins This Friday
The Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is hosting a week-long series of events focused on the issue of water quality. The series will begin this Friday, June 1, with an outdoor movie night at Tidal Creek Co-op.
The series will end on Thursday, June 7, with a panel discussion at 6:30 pm in the CFCC Union Station Auditorium, moderated by WHQR’s Vince Winkel. CFPUA Executive Director, Jim Flechtner, will participate in the discussion and provide an update on CFPUA actions to address emerging contaminants.