North Carolina’s Delays on PFAS Limits in Drinking Water Pose Health and Economic Risks

WILMINGTON, NC – Local elected and business leaders, impacted citizens, and clean drinking water advocates called on state leaders to avoid further delays and immediately issue regulations protecting water from dangerous “forever chemicals.”  

The Environmental Management Commission (EMC) is scheduled to meet this Wednesday and Thursday to again discuss regulations for acceptable PFAS levels in North Carolina’s drinking water. But rather than act on the proposed protections, the EMC has caved under pressure from the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, opting again to review the protective measures rather than act to protect residents across the state who have been impacted by PFAS pollution.   

“Action on these dangerous forever chemicals in North Carolina’s drinking water is long overdue,” NRDC Senior Attorney Cori Bell said at Tuesday’s press conference about the PFAS standards “We need DEQ to live up to its mission to protect the health and prosperity of North Carolinians and propose strong limits for PFAS; limits that would take effect as soon as possible, and not decades into the future.” 

These invasive “forever chemicals” cause cancer, infertility, and a host of other health problems. “The political maneuvering is ridiculous,” said Dana Sargent, Executive Director of the Cape Fear River Watch. “Our regulatory agencies are playing with our lives.”  

Yet the NC Chamber of Commerce is pressuring state agencies to side with polluters over people, citing the cost of reducing pollution as a threat to the economy. But business owners disagree.   

“I am a member of the Chamber of Commerce and I don’t support their positions on PFAS. The Chamber isn’t representing our interests, and the EMC, DEQ, Senator Lee, and the Chamber are all hurting my business,” said Steve Schnitzler, CEO of Port City Java in Wilmington. Since 2021, the company’s water and sewer costs have increased 57 percent. “All of us are paying more for these services, as are the residential customers, and it is all because of no fault of their own. This is the same for every business that pays for water and sewer service.”  

For farmers like Ty Jacobus, owner of Honeybird Organic Farm, the impact of these chemicals goes beyond the bottom line. Jacobus found that his produce, including organic eggs, had PFAS levels up to 980 parts per trillion.  

“We have seen these chemicals accumulate in our crops and food supplies at a very fast rate,” Jacobus said. “It defies common sense that leaders would impact the state’s top industry: agriculture.”   

The ongoing pollution is personal for Emily Donovan, Co-Founder of Clean Cape Fear. “Our pollution is so bad, the UN Human Rights Council recently called out Dupont and Chemours for business-related human rights abuses. This river belongs to the people.”  

Without action from state agencies, local governments are stepping up to protect their utility customers. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority spent $54 million to add a PFAS filtration system. The Brunswick County Public Utility spent $100 million on PFAS filtration. The costs of these improvements are passed on to utility customers.   

“The Cape Fear River drives the success of our community,” said Karen Mosteller, a Southport Alderwoman who spoke as a private citizen and resident. “We recognize these resources are gifts, and work to preserve them for future generations. But we need state and federal governments to be on the same page. Without a clean environment, there is no future for healthy communities, and healthy residents.”  

A recent survey found that 300 water systems across North Carolina have elevated PFAS levels, impacting 42 municipal water systems that serve three million residents. “The EMC has failed to take necessary actions,” said Wilmington City Councilor Salette Andrews. “The consequences are severe. Not only do people have the economic burden, but it will continue to threaten their health and livelihoods.” 

Watch the full press conference here. 

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NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd). Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.