Chemours Notifies CFPUA Of Toxic PFAS Releases Into River

Chemours notified Cape Fear Public Utilities Authority, which services New Hanover County only, late yesterday that sediment highly contaminated with PFAS chemicals leaked into the Cape Fear River. CFPUA issued a news alert this morning, click here to read the full alert.

CFPUA will be taking daily samples and posting them regularly on their website—however, sample results are usually delayed and until CFPUA's new filtration upgrades are fully operational it is reasonable to assume impacted customers will potentially be exposed to increased levels of these forever chemicals in their finished tap water.

This contamination threat would also impact Pender and Brunswick county residents who rely on the Cape Fear River as their primary source for drinking water, as well. If you are concerned about this threat please contact the customer service number located on your water bill for more detailed information.

CFPUA still offers PFAS free filling stations in parts of New Hanover County--however, those stations are not conveniently located for many who need access to toxic free water the most. To our knowledge, Brunswick and Pender counties do not offer toxic free filling stations for their impacted communities.

Due to the emerging science of the lasting health effects of PFAS exposures at trace amounts and because we know many in our communities were over exposed to these forever chemicals for decades, we feel Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender county residents who rely on the Cape Fear River as their primary source for drinking water should all be on high alert as this story unfolds.

It is also important to remember, some of the nation's leading PFAS toxicologists are sounding the alarm regarding Covid-19 and PFAS exposures. PFAS chemicals negatively impact our immune system and the body's natural ability to create antibodies--a key defense in fighting off infection to this novel coronavirus. Click here to learn more.

NC DEQ is hosting a virtual public information session regarding Chemours and PFAS/GenX on Tuesday, August 4th for impacted communities to learn more "about current actions to prevent and remediate PFAS contamination at the Chemours Fayetteville Works Facility." NC DEQ will take public comments at this time.

We strongly recommend participating in this event and demanding NC DEQ require Chemours to provide immediate alternate safe drinking water to all impacted communities downstream from the Fayetteville Works facility. Click here for information on how to participate.

For over three years, our region still has some of the highest levels of PFAS contamination in our drinking water per a recent Environmental Working Group nation-wide tap water study. A Brunswick County elementary school topping this national list. This is unacceptable and no way to live.

We have been monitoring state actions for over three years, and unfortunately, NC's GOP-controlled General Assembly has done very little compared to other states experiencing similar PFAS contamination. This is less of a partisan debate in other states. It should not be one here in NC. We should all want to protect our most vulnerable populations from these toxic forever chemicals.

If you would like to take more action because you are tired of paying for water laced with toxic chemicals, we recommend you contact your state level elected officials and encourage them to do everything in their powers to make Chemours provide alternative sources for toxic free tap water to all downstream impacted communities ASAP!

Brunswick County:

Rep. Frank Iler (R): frank.iler@ncleg.net

Rep. Butler (D): deb.butler@ncleg.net

Sen. Bill Rabon (R): bill.rabon@ncleg.net

New Hanover County:

Rep. Deb Butler (D): deb.butler@ncleg.net

Rep. Ted Davis, Jr. (R): ted.davis@ncleg.net

Rep. Holly Grange (R): holly.grange@ncleg.net

Sen. Harper Peterson (D): harper.peterson@ncleg.net

Pender County:

Rep. Carson Smith (R): carson.smith@ncleg.net

Sen. Bill Rabon (R): bill.rabon@ncleg.net

Above all else, take care of one another.

With gratitude from your leadership team,

Emily Donovan, co-founder

Jessica Cannon, MD, co-founder

Johnsie Lang, PhD

Drake Phelps, PhD Candidate

PS:  For nearly ten years, NC has been operating under illegal voting districts and residents will finally have access to fairer voting representation this November. Your vote matters. Additionally, North Carolina now offers online voting registration. Please make sure you are eligible and registered to vote. Click here for details. If you are concerned about voting during the pandemic we recommend you request an absentee ballot. Click here for more info.