Utilities across North Carolina are confronting rising levels of toxic PFAS in public water supplies, as newly released federal data shows contamination in systems serving cities like Durham and Fayetteville.
Liz McLaughlin reports for WRAL News.
In short:
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has detected PFAS contamination in 200 additional U.S. drinking water systems, pushing the number of Americans exposed to over 172 million. Affected North Carolina systems include Durham, Fayetteville, and Chapel Hill.
- Utilities like OWASA and Apex are using activated carbon technologies to lower PFAS levels below the EPA’s new limit of four parts per trillion, but these solutions are costly and generate significant waste.
- Environmental advocates warn that federal regulators are preparing to roll back PFAS limits for four compounds, which they say could weaken efforts to hold polluters accountable and protect drinking water.
Key quote:
“These chemicals cause harm at incredibly low concentrations, and any additional exposure is a concern. This is a public health problem that needs to be addressed with urgency.”
— David Andrews, acting chief science officer at the Environmental Working Group
Why this matters:
PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” have become nearly unavoidable in the American water supply. These synthetic compounds, once prized for their resistance to heat and water, now linger in the environment and our bodies. Studies link PFAS exposure to cancer, developmental issues, weakened immune response, and hormonal disruption. What makes them especially alarming is their persistence — PFAS don’t degrade easily, meaning even low-level contamination accumulates over time. Water utilities, particularly in historically impacted states like North Carolina, face the dual burden of rising treatment costs and ongoing litigation, all while consumers foot the bill. Meanwhile, weak regulatory shifts could erode accountability and delay action at the source: industrial discharge and chemical manufacturing.
Learn more: North Carolina's new PFAS plan could let polluters off the hook
