North Carolina is a state of scenic beauty and vivid cultural richness, which allows its residents to live happily, safely, and meaningfully.
Many people from other states consider North Carolina one of the best places to live. North Carolina even emerged as the 26th safest place in the United States.
It was not until water pollution issues suddenly appeared that little sparks of doubt in the hearts of many began to threaten the lives of its people.
A place without good, clean, and pollution-free drinking water is a place that is not safe at all. In that case, is North Carolina one of the safest states to live in, or was it all a once-on-a-time story?
To give you an overview, North Carolina has recently faced various issues regarding water pollution. What was once a historically water-rich state faced a water crisis at a critical moment.
Some research shows North Carolina's water contains high levels of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This contamination has become a water quality dilemma, resulting in panic and worries among residents.
Furthermore, PFAS pollution in water supplies is known to generate myriad health problems such as cancers, cholesterol, hypertension, thyroid complications, and many other diseases.
These groups of potentially harmful chemicals, also known as the compounds called "forever chemicals," exhibit strong persistence in water environments. In a literal sense, PFAS exist because they persist; therefore, we are doomed if we consume water contaminated with PFAS.
As such, human health is severely affected when exposed to toxic chemicals such as PFAS exposure. Being the 3rd highest state for PFAS pollution, accounting for North Carolina's water supply as unsafe drinking water is such an understatement, now, is it not?
Apart from that, North Carolina is also facing other adversities of the water crisis. With much pressure from the press and several environmental agencies, it is faced with utmost rage from the public and big liability to resolve water pollution issues.
Urgency, accountability, and responsibility are three big words that can define NC waterways in the future.
If they don't take action now, the residents of surrounding communities will continue to be deprived of clean and reliable drinking water, a basic human right.
THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ)
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the primary environmental agency protecting North Carolina's environmental resources, including water.
This organization has offices in secluded areas such as mountains, coasts, and small towns. DEQ generally supervises the administration of regulations and environmental protection programs that safeguard air, water, and human health.
In addition, it is working towards advancing an all-of-the-above energy strategy that the people of North Carolina need.
This environmental working group is also the go-to for technical assistance for business owners, farmers, local governments, and all North Carolinians.
They are the biggest environmental health advocates, promoting responsibility and stewardship toward the surroundings through various educational programs and seminars.
Through DEQ's objectives, North Carolinians can receive a good drinking water supply, improving the quality of life for all.
There are four (4) divisions under DEQ's supervision: the Division of Air Quality, the Division of Marine Fishes, the Division of Waste Management, and the Division of Water Resources.
Focusing on the Division of Water Resources is the decision-making body for the environmental protection and quality of Surface water and groundwater. It is also responsible for clean tap water and providing safe drinking water to all community members.
They strictly adhere to the laws, policies, and ordinances mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, N.C.
General Assembly, the Environmental Management Commission, and the Commission for Public Health.
So, what exactly do they do? They issue pollution-control permits, survey residents' compliance, and give the necessary sanctions for environmental violations. They also perform experiments and tests to evaluate environmental water quantity and quality.
Overall, they lead the development of water quality standards, rules, and management strategies.
Public Water Supply Section of G.S. 130A Article 10
One of the main responsibilities of the Public Water Supply Section is to regulate public water systems in North Carolina under the public utility authority of G.S. 130A Article 10.
With over six thousand public water systems directed by the state, productive water regulation is a necessity.
An estimated 75% of the state's populace lives in regions served by local area water systems. Meanwhile, others are served by various kinds of public water systems, like working environments, schools, parks, or restaurants.
To elaborate, the Public Water Supply Section has branches and programs for the following agenda:
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The proper implementation and execution of the Safe Drinking Water Act, as mandated and in compliance with the federal state.
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Take control of the plans to create, revise, and improve the state's water systems.
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Inspect, investigate, and provide technical assistance for various implementations of water systems.
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Take immediate action to emergencies and complaints brought upon by water problems such as contaminated drinking water.
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Conduct precautionary assessments of testing water, look out for emerging contaminants, and eliminate negative health impacts.
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Consistently develop the capacity of water systems to maximize the provision of drinking water supplies nationwide.
Needless to say, these goals and responsibilities are crucial in maintaining good drinking water in North Carolina. After all, they promote clean water supplies and enhance water facilities as public health advocates.
DEQ'S MISSION
Essentially, their mission is to advocate for public health by guaranteeing the availability of safe and potable water for North Carolinians' consumption. They also ensure that all public water systems are adequately delivered, created, implemented, and maintained.
DEQ'S VISION
The organization's primary vision is for all North Carolinians to access a clean and reliable drinking water supply provided by functional water systems.
NORTH CAROLINA'S CONCERNS FOR WATER POLLUTION
The Cape Fear River is North Carolina's biggest watershed. It is the source of drinking water and other necessities for over one million individuals.
Hence, with the surge in water pollution, over one million people have been badly affected by wastewater discharges. As said, the water content has shown high levels of industrial contaminants.
From 1980 to 2015, the Cape Fear River's chemical burdens were already starting. In 1980, the river was contaminated with chemical compounds containing fluorine, otherwise known as Fluorochemical production. This started at DuPont’s Fayetteville Works plant, which eventually combined with Chemours in later years.
Next, PFAS (also called PFOA) detection in North Carolina waters was first documented. The Cape Fear River basin was contaminated with wastewater discharges from the plant.
Two years later, Chemours started replacing PFOA with GenX, which complied with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) PFOA Stewardship Program 2009.
In 2012, the Cape Fear River's water content was detected for GenX and other PFAS. In 2014, GenX finally reached the city of Wilmington, contaminating its drinking water with toxic chemicals.
Lastly, sampling was completed 2015 for the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3). According to the results, PFAS is present in over 20 public water systems, with 11 detected in NC counties.
These findings confirm the extent of PFAS contamination. The NC government should resolve several water issues, including the exposures south of the Chemours facility.
Next are the very high levels of PFAS contamination in rivers like Deep and Haw. If water quality remains as it is, North Carolina is at risk of major environmental and health problems.
THE SOURCE OF PFAS CONTAMINATION
In previous research, it has been continually forenamed that PFAS contamination is from wastewater sources.
This is true because the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) confirmed that PFAS contaminates drinking water through wastewater. However, wastewater may not be the only route.
The research conducted by DEQ's Division of Air Quality shows that some PFAS combine with air particles that fall back to earth in water. This is perhaps one of the explanations for how these forever chemicals contaminate groundwater miles from the source. In addition, this also explains how the Cape Fear River got contaminated.
The North Carolina Department estimated high levels of PFAS in rainwater tests and experiments up to 30 kilometers away from the plant.
To resolve this issue, the Department of Environmental Quality made it compulsory for Chemours to diminish overall GenX air discharges.
Moreover, they were required to provide permanent replacement drinking water supplies for the surrounding communities. This could be considered their way of compensating the impacted residents.
THE STUDY OF CHEMICAL GENX
GenX is a Chemours brand name for a synthetic organofluorine substance compound. Mainly, it is the ammonium salt of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer corrosive (HFPO-DA).
As the research continued, it was revealed that Genx's exposure to residents near the Lower Cape Fear River basin was relatively mild. The research shows that Genx exposure came so little due to its short half-life or breakdown time. This result was particularly drawn from North Carolinian blood tests that participated in the study.
However, the researchers have detected other newly identified PFAS, which makes the water unsafe. Most people's blood samples found a newly identified PFAS called Hydro-Eve. No toxicology reports are released; therefore, there is no clear indication of what it can do to human health.
THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY
Having clean and reliable drinking water is now the community's primary concern. People across the state were gravely affected by the current water issues.
In a resolution, proper authorities assigned a panel of people working on the frontlines in their communities to minimize water health risks. This includes a Cape Fear River Watch Riverkeeper to monitor the water systems.
In addition, an environmental outreach program manager oversees implementations and regulations. Lastly, a person represents the New Hanover Health Department in each area.
Needless to say, community groups are very engaged with water issues and work together to resolve them. While this was unfortunate, it still fostered dialogue between the people and the authorities.
Many people started caring for the environment, hoping and fearing that dirty water would continue flowing from the watersheds.
THE CURRENT WATER CRISIS IN NORTH CAROLINA
With North Carolina's current water crisis, residents have been unable to access clean drinking water. The rampant contamination of the region’s drinking water supply continued to scare people of health risks, interjecting in 2017 after so many years.
After all, PFAS contamination, including the chemical GenX, contains toxic components known to negatively affect human health. From 2021 onward, the Cape Fear River watershed continued to show signs of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the water.
These PFAS chemicals primarily originate from DuPont and Chemours plants, which have dipped toxic chemicals into the river for over four decades.
As a result, the consequences of this contamination have persisted for a long time and continue to increase despite the various measures implemented by the authorities. These synthetic chemicals have also continued to harm over one hundred thousand North Carolinians.
THE TRUTH ABOUT PFAS
PFAS is not always bad and is used in various everyday products. These may include nonstick pans, rugs and carpets, food wrappers, stain repellents, and water-resistant cloth wear.
But that's about it. Mixing PFAS with water is an entirely different story. This makes PFAS synthetic compounds dangerous to human health and the environment.
Moreover, PFAS does not biodegrade or break down in the environment, which, in exchange, bioaccumulates in the bodies of humans and animals.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that PFAS is present in the blood samples of nearly every American. This results from breathing contaminated air, eating contaminated food, and drinking PFAS-contaminated water.
Worse, the less privileged are at greater risk of PFAS exposure due to the economic availability of non-polluted water facilities. Furthermore, low-income people are likelier to eat fast meals wrapped in PFAS packaging.
Not only that but they are also exposed to rental units with PFAS-laden carpeting.
While drinking from contaminated water is a major concern of every North Carolinian, high-income people can buy bottled water or set up expensive filtration systems at home to eradicate PFAS contaminants from the water.
As you can see, it is significantly worse for those lower in the social hierarchy.
According to the CDC report of 2021, PFAS exposure has negative indications for human health. It can be a cause of thyroid issues, fertility concerns, asthma, and many more illnesses.
To date, many people cried about concerns about PFAS contamination, which may have led to them being lethally ill. According to recent testimonies, PFAS content in water is the reason why they contracted grave diseases in the first place.
In addition, several members of the community held out photographs and spoke through the agony about their serious health issues, blaming the North Carolina water supply for their sufferings.
The people became even more enraged when other states, such as Michigan and New York, started implementing PFAS limitations on water supplies.
On the contrary, North Carolina has not done even the bare minimum of protecting its people.
While they passed three bills related to water regulation, they failed to advance them, causing the health-impact issues to get out of hand as the water crisis continued to prevail.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, North Carolina has been experiencing burnt bridges over troubled water—in a literal sense.
The PFAS problem in water systems has escalated into a national concern that affects millions of lives.
After all, contaminated drinking water raises concerns about environmental problems, health issues, and the overall quality of life that North Carolinians can attain.
While the NC Government is trying to resolve these issues as much as possible, the residents still can't confidently vouch for their proposed resolution, as they are moving slowly and timidly.
Now, suppose the North Carolina water supply meets no good changes. What are the odds that people will eventually achieve the basic human right of easy access to clean and high-quality drinking water?
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