Read the full article (WWAY News)
“BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — On Friday, Brunswick County shared information about the test results for two additional water samples staff collected in July following notification about a suspected sediment spill due to construction at the Chemours Fayetteville Works Plant Wednesday, July 22.
Brunswick County conducted additional tests for per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) compounds on Cape Fear River water at the Kings Bluff raw water pump station July 23 and 24 to monitor for any increased PFAS levels following reports from Chemours about a potential sediment spill due to construction at its Fayetteville Works Plant.
Under current guidance, the sample results do not exceed the EPA-established health advisory level for the combined total of PFOA + PFOS set at 70 parts per trillion (ppt) nor the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services-established health advisory level for GenX (HFPO-DA) set at 140 ppt.
Several factors including river flow, rainfall, point source discharges, and stormwater can all play a part in the amount of PFAS measured in the Cape Fear River, so it is not determinable if a potential sediment spill at the Fayetteville Works Plant was the only factor contributing to these levels. Brunswick County’s weekly samples of finished water have regularly fluctuated, ranging from below 50 ppt to nearly 300 ppt across samples so far collected in 2020.
| PFOA + PFOS Health Advisory Level: 70 ppt | GenX (HFPO-DA) Health Advisory Level: 140 ppt | Total of all Compounds (49 compounds) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 23 (Kings Bluff Raw Water) | 36.1 ppt | 15.7 ppt | 210.5277 ppt |
| July 24 (Kings Bluff Raw Water) | 17.56 ppt | 19.8 ppt | 292.461 ppt |
Additionally, the county’s regularly scheduled tests of both raw water from the Cape Fear River and treated water at the Northwest Water Treatment Plant Friday, July 24 also remained below current health advisory levels.
| PFOA + PFOS Health Advisory Level: 70 ppt | GenX (HFPO-DA) Health Advisory Level: 140 ppt | Total of all Compounds (49 compounds) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 24 (Cape Fear River) | 18.14 ppt | 15.2 ppt | 272.1637 ppt |
| July 24 (Northwest Water Treatment Plant) | 17.55 ppt | 15.2 ppt | 237.6219 ppt |
These water sample results will not result in a health advisory notice at this time. Brunswick County says they will continue to conduct voluntary, weekly testing for PFAS compounds and will publish all test results on its website for transparency. Results can typically take a few weeks to process and return from the laboratory.
Brunswick County’s regularly tests for 49 PFAS compounds in both raw water and finished water treated through the conventional water treatment system currently at the Northwest Water Treatment Plant. Most PFAS compounds are unregulated at the federal and state level at this time…”