Residents, environmental group sue Robeson County over alleged PFAS contamination in drinking water
ST. PAULS, NC (WWAY) — Residents of a Robeson County community and an environmental advocacy group have filed a lawsuit against the county, alleging that PFAS contamination from the county landfill has polluted drinking water supplies and endangered public health.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday by the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of the St. Pauls Community Association for Progress, also known as CAP, seeks to force Robeson County to address what plaintiffs describe as ongoing contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals.”
“We want Robeson County to fix the problem,” said St. Pauls resident Viv Tolson Wayne, a member of CAP.
According to the lawsuit, PFAS chemicals disposed of at the Robeson County landfill have leached into groundwater wells that supply the nearby ROCCO Water Treatment Plant, contaminating drinking water used by residents in St. Pauls and other parts of the county.
Wayne said testing of her drinking water back in March found PFAS levels exceeding federal health advisory recommendations.
“Gen-X, the EPA recommended 10, I think that’s parts per trillion and mine tested 25.6,” Wayne said. “For PFOA, the EPA recommended 4 parts per trillion and I got 35.1.”
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals used in a variety of industrial and consumer products. They are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not easily break down in the environment.
Wayne, who lives across the street from the landfill and near the water treatment plant, said she has also experienced problems she attributes to odors coming from the landfill.
“I couldn’t stay out in the yard. I would have nosebleeds, I would have like gagging, coughing,” Wayne said. “If it was a hot day, I’d gag because you could smell the stink from the landfill.”
Jamie Whitlock, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, said county officials have been aware of the contamination concerns for years.
“The county has known about the drinking water contamination for at least three years,” Whitlock said. “It’s time for the county to step up to the plate and stop providing toxic drinking water to folks.”
The lawsuit follows years of debate over operations at the Robeson County landfill. Last year, county commissioners delayed a proposed expansion that would have added roughly 35 acres to the existing site after residents raised concerns about potential environmental impacts.
In February, commissioners held a public hearing after elevated PFAS levels were reported at the ROCCO Water Treatment Plant.
Robeson County Commissioner David Edge disputed the allegations in a statement provided to WWAY.
“We know the issues. They’re not as bad as they say they are,” Edge said. “They want money. They are ambulance chasers. We are in compliance with the state. Our water plants and solid waste landfill are controlled by the state. We are looking at equipment and doing everything possible to address the issue.”
Whitlock said the lawsuit is intended to compel the county to take immediate action to address the contamination and protect residents from future exposure.
