“Chemours appears to be at odds with state regulators over how to best help residents whose wells are contaminated with GenX near the company’s Bladen County plant.

Chemours says granular activated carbon filtration systems have proven to be an effective way to remove the potentially carcinogenic GenX and other similar compounds from water. The systems are expensive — about $5,000 to $10,000 not including maintenance cost — but the company is prepared to offer them at no cost to nearby homes whose wells have high levels of the chemical while evaluating the possibility of running municipal water lines to the area.

The state Department of Environmental Quality says it does not consider the filters to be a long-term final solution except in areas where there is no safe alternative or where it is preferred by the homeowner. The department has told Chemours to develop a plan by June 30 to provide a permanent water supply to homes contaminated with GenX.

Two residents who have the filter systems installed at their homes say they’re not ready to commit to keeping them. But, they say, the early results are encouraging…

Chemours officials say that more than 10 years of research shows that the levels of GenX around the plant are not hazardous for humans. The state Department of Health and Human Services has established a provisional health goal for the compound, which is a threshold for levels considered safe.

In all, about 1,000 private wells around the plant have been tested. GenX was detected in more than 760 wells, including 225 at levels above the state’s provisional health goal.

Brian Long, manager of the plant, said last week in a town hall meeting hosted by Chemours that the company is willing to provide the filtration systems to homes with wells above the health goal.

‘We believe it’s a good long-term solution,’ he said. ‘We will maintain those units for life’…

In response to a question about wells that are found to have elevated levels of GenX in the future, the company said, ‘Chemours is continuing its sampling program and will offer to install GAC units where appropriate.’

The filtration systems have been installed at six locations around the plant, according to Long, who is expected to talk to local business leaders at a Greater Fayetteville Chamber event Thursday morning. The preliminary results show no detection of GenX and similar compounds after water goes through the filters, he said.”

Read the full article by Steve DeVane