NC DEQ

An Oxford resident walks down Main Street in Oxford, N.C. on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.

Politics

NC lawmakers sent Oxford $10 million to help pay for a water plant. Now, they want it back.

Adam Wagner

Upgrades to the Kerr Lake Regional Water System's treatment plant are underway. Oxford officials warn that if the General Assembly claws the money back, that may cause an unexpected spike to water bills.

Hydrilla covers the surface of the Eno River at the Pleasant Green access point in Durham. The invasive plant disrupts the natural habitat.

Environment

NC environmental officials are treating the Eno River for an invasive plant

Celeste Gracia

State environmental officials will treat the Eno River for hydrilla, an invasive aquatic plant that disrupts the natural habitat. Treatment started on May 15 and will continue through the end of August.

A groups gathers around a large sperm whale on an NC beach. People wear yellow vests and blue gloves as they appear to be collecting samples from the stranded whale.

Environment

What causes — and doesn’t cause — marine mammal strandings along NC's coast

Sophie Mallinson

Marine mammal experts on North Carolina’s coast want to combat misinformation about the cause of strandings. It comes after two sperm whales were stranded and died along the state’s coast in December.

Richard Leak, a former Alcoa employee and member of the West Badin community, stands in front of the Alcoa-Badin Landfill.

Environment

Badin residents still demand accountability from Alcoa

Zachary Turner

Community members in West Badin hosted a rally to draw attention to longstanding environmental issues in the community.

Environment

SELC pushes back on Sanford's 1,4 Dioxane and PFAS river discharges

Kelly Kenoyer

Chemours isn't the only culprit contaminating the Cape Fear River — and PFAS isn't the only chemical environmentalists are concerned about.

Kalle Simpson, a graduate research assistant at North Carolina State University, sorts the dead oysters from the living.

Environment

Summer mortality events wipe out oyster farms as researchers begin search for the cause

Zachary Turner

Scientists are monitoring sample sites along the North Carolina coast to study recurring summer die-offs that plague Carolina oyster growers.

Anaerobic digestion in a hog waste lagoon at Loyd Ray Farms causes methane to build up under a cover. This methane will be converted into swine biogas.

Environment

EPA to investigate hog farm waste biogas permits

Celeste Gracia

Sign that reads: Water Filtration Facility, 7441 Poplar Springs Church Road Sanford, NC 27330

Environment

Monitoring Forever Chemicals

Katy Barron

Research on chemical pollutants in North Carolina’s rivers and streams is stacking up, and the results are unnerving. Newly-released data from the North…

Environment

Monitoring Forever Chemicals

Katy Barron

Research on chemical pollutants in North Carolina’s rivers and streams is stacking up, and the results are unnerving. Newly-released data from the North…

Environment

Chemical In Greensboro Water And 'No' Vote On Mandatory African American History Course

Laura Pellicer

Greensboro city officials are looking into high levels of a likely-carcinogenic chemical compound identified at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The…