EPA discusses possible regulations on toxic chemicals in drinking water
FAYETTEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — Fourteen months of uncertainty, more than 600 wells tested, most of which were contaminated, a river polluted and thousands of people impacted. The US Environmental Protection Agency researching claims that Chemours is the reason behind it all.
The EPA held an all-day summit in Fayetteville Tuesday talking about chemical compounds like GenX in drinking water.
The EPA has brought together experts and key regulators to share what has been in done in the past year since the discovery of these chemical compounds and share what is to come.
The summit included experts from the EPA, State Department of Environmental Quality and local water utilities. They took part in a panel talking exposure and the latest air and water tests on PFAS chemicals.
“We need PFAS to be regulated as an entire class of highly toxic chemicals,” Clean Cape Fear Member Emily Donovan said.
Many of them sharing their latest findings like levels of GenX found in different water sources, fish, honey, and in the air. The chemical can be filtered out of water but it’s not 100 percent.
EPA heard concerns during a public input session this afternoon.
“I was a public school teacher and I taught science and there are four things that are essential for life: air, water, food and shelter,” Effie Sparrow, Kure Beach resident, said. “Chemours is ruining three of those things for a lot of people.”
“We’re right now just lab rats,” Wilmington resident Rachel Sutton said. “And it’s not, it’s nothing that anyone consented to.”
Sutton moved back to the Port City to improve her family’s life. A few years in, her life changed forever and while there’s no proof, she fears it’s because of these chemicals.
“I deal with thyroid disease everyday and so it’s something that I have to get monitored to make sure that nodules don’t turn into cancer it’s just part of my life now,” Sutton said.
For Sutton this summit didn’t give her all she expected. Regional EPA Director Trey Glenn told WWAY that for those like Sutton the EPA is working to stop the flow.
“These visits to a community like Fayetteville are an essentially important part of this process,” Peter Grevatt, EPA, said. “We need to understand the concerns of local community members and EPA is going to be focused on developing the tools and resources for states and local communities to address this challenge.”
Leaders at the Office of Drinking Water tell WWAY they intend to set toxicity levels for chemicals like GenX as soon as September.
“We’re going to be working on a management plan that will be rolled out by the end of this year,” Glenn said. “We’re also looking at setting these toxicity values this fall. So there are actions that are being taken very soon.”
The EPA says they did not invite Chemours but the company had every right to join in the public meeting.
