The testing of residential wells near the Chemours Fayetteville Works plant was deemed necessary after the recent discovery of the toxic chemicals GenX and C8 in the groundwater at the site.
In order to determine whether GenX is also present in the groundwater of those living near the plant, Chemours agreed to conduct testing of residential well water within a one-mile radius of the plant.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has also agreed to test 43 residential wells within a 1.5 mile radius of the plant. According to a recent article from the Robesonian, the DEQ will also send letters to residents and conduct a door-to-door campaign in order to test as many wells as possible.
However, the GenX contamination could extended well past this radius. The extent will remain uncertain until the reports from the additional testing are released.
On September 14th, a public meeting was hosted by the DEQ and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to discuss the issue with local residents. A recent article from Star News provides additional information
At this meeting, residents could sign up to have their water tested even if they were outside of the one-mile radius that Chemours originally agreed to test.
If the test results prove their suspicion that GenX is present in the water, then Chemours is obligated to provide them with bottled drinking water.
As more tests of wells near the Fayetteville plant are completed, additional wells are identified as being contaminated by GenX. Listed below are the dates of recent reports identifying the running total of contaminated wells near the plant:
- September 21, 2017: 11 contaminated wells identified
- September 27, 2017: 19 contaminated wells identified
- October 6, 2017: 26 contaminated wells identified
- November 4, 2017: 50 contaminated wells identified
Both the DEQ and Chemours are continuing to test nearby wells, and Chemours is tasked with providing affected residents with bottled water in the meantime.
State officials hosted a second information session on October 5, 2017 to answer questions about private well testing near the Fayetteville Works Plant. However, it seems that many questions went unanswered at the meeting, frustrating local residents.
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More Information
Timeline: GenX Contamination of the Cape Fear River
September 2017: New GenX Information Soon to be Released
Last Revised: 10/2/17