Drinking Water

There are three groundwater standards for PFAS under consideration. Public comment overwhelmingly supports the proposed regulations, but is also pushing for more action.

Last year, state lawmakers spent about $2 billion to fix aging water and sewer infrastructure in small towns across North Carolina. But some towns were left out of the spending plan, and this year’s budget impasse will keep them waiting even longer.

Any level of lead in drinking water can be a health risk to young children. But more than half of North Carolina public school buildings were built before the federal government began regulating lead. With federal funding this year, all public schools across the state will be required to test for lead and asbestos.

The town of Star’s leaders want to build on the success of an arts facility by finding new uses for the other shuttered textile buildings and historic structures that line Main Street. But while most of Star’s historic buildings are standing strong, the town’s water and sewer infrastructure is showing its age.

The recently approved state budget includes about $2 billion to improve water and sewer systems. The money will help about 200 mostly rural counties and towns across North Carolina.

DuPont and spinoff companies Chemours and Corteva said Friday they'll create a $1.18 billion fund that could compensate thousands of public water systems. PFAS chemicals are used widely in nonstick and water-resistant products, as well as some firefighting foams.

State Department of Environmental Quality plans remote public hearing for residents as federal guidelines for safe drinking water change due to new research.

Chemical company Chemours issued a statement Wednesday morning disputing the scientific data the EPA used as a basis for the health advisory issued for GenX, which the company uses in its products.

The past two decades have brought intensive study of PFAS and their health effects which include immune disruption, damage to the livers, kidneys and thyroids – among other problems – of exposed people. But there’s still no comprehensive understanding of how they move through people and the environment.

Environmental Protection Agency head Michael Regan says his agency is taking a series of actions to limit pollution from a cluster of long-lasting chemicals known as PFAS that are increasingly turning up in public drinking water systems, private wells and even food.