DEQ PFAS Sampling of Public Water Systems

On April 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized Maximum Contaminant Levels for six PFAS compounds. These included a limit of 4.0 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS. Public Water systems will have 5 years to meet the MCLs.  

Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation details
DEQ press release

North Carolina has nearly 2,000 community systems providing public water to 9.3 million customers. Beginning in 2022, DEQ conducted sampling for multiple PFAS in public water systems across the state to assess the levels of PFAS in public drinking water sources. In late 2022, DEQ’s Division of Water Resources’ Public Water Supply section performed three months of sampling at 50 municipal and county water systems identified in the 2019 PFAST Network study with PFOA/PFOS detections above the minimum reporting level indicated by the 2022 EPA interim health advisories or GenX chemicals above 10ppt. 

In 2023, Public Water Supply staff sampled more than 530 additional small water systems that opted into the one-time sampling. 

The maps below include DEQ data on PFAS compounds found across these 583 systems. Additional sampling is taking place in 2024, and results will be posted to this page when data is processed and validated. 

Other public water systems are monitoring for PFAS voluntarily; however, their data is not reflected on this map. DEQ recommends that public water systems share PFAS results with their customers. Customers should contact their specific water provider for more information. Some known sources of information are posted below. 

2023 data 
DEQ conducted sampling for PFAS compounds at more than 530 small water systems across the state. Data included below includes results for PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS and GenX. The rule also regulates mixtures of GenX chemicals, PFNA, PFHxS and PFBS through the use of a Hazard Index calculation.       

Data table - 2023 Small System Sampling 

2022 data 
DEQ conducted PFOA and PFOS sampling at 50 municipal and county water systems over a three-month period in late 2022. The systems were selected for additional sampling based on PFAS detections during the 2019 NC Collaboratory PFAST Network sampling. The full data set is linked below the map.  

Data Table - 2022 Municipal System Sampling PFOA, PFOS, GenX 
Data Table - 2022 Municipal System Sampling 1,4 Dioxane 
ReadMe 

Addressing PFAS

While public water systems have five years to comply with the EPA MCLs, several water systems sampled in 2022 have already taken steps to address PFAS or install treatment. Those include:
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority
Brunswick County Water System
Town of Pittsboro
Town of Maysville

Funding Opportunities for Water Systems

DEQ is utilizing available water infrastructure funding programs, including additional federal funding targeted to address emerging compounds, to support water systems taking actions to reduce PFAS.  A number of public water systems in North Carolina have applied for and received funding for studies or construction projects in the Spring and Fall 2023.

More information on funding opportunities to address emerging contaminants is available here.

 

ApplicantCountyProject NameProject TypeFunding Cycle
Neuse Regional Water and Sewer AuthorityLenoirPFAS TreatmentConstructionSpring 2024
Weldon, Town ofHalifaxWater Plant Replacement ,Emerging Contaminant RemovalConstructionSpring 2024
Fayetteville Public Works CommissionCumberlandPO Hoffer Glenville Lake GAC ConstructionConstructionSpring 2024
Fuquay-Varina, Town ofWakeSanford WFF - GAC FacilityConstructionSpring 2024
Aqua North Carolina, IncCumberlandBrookwood Community Ion Exchange FiltersConstructionSpring 2024
Holly Springs, Town ofWakeSanford WFF Expansion – GAC FacilityConstructionSpring 2024
Roanoke Rapids Sanitary DistrictHalifaxDrinking Water Emerging Contaminant StudyPFAS StudySpring 2024
Goldsboro, City ofWaynePFAS Treatment Evaluation and PilotPFAS StudySpring 2024
Orange Water and Sewer AuthorityOrangePFAS Treatment at Jones Ferry WTPPFAS StudySpring 2024
Asheboro, City ofRandolphW L Brown WTP Emerg Cont Planning StudyPFAS StudySpring 2024
Rocky Mount, City ofNashPFAS Treatment at Rocky Mount WTPsPFAS StudySpring 2024
Neuse Regional Water and Sewer AuthorityLenoirPFAS TreatmentConstructionFall 2023
Weldon, Town ofHalifaxWater Plant Replacement, Emerging Contaminants RemovalConstructionFall 2023
Cumberland CountyCumberlandGray's Creek Phase 1ConstructionFall 2023
Fayetteville Public Works CommissionCumberlandPO Hoffer Glenville Lake GAC ConstructionConstructionFall 2023
Neuse Regional Water and Sewer AuthorityLenoirPFAS Treatment StudyPFAS StudyFall 2023
Fayetteville Public Works CommissionCumberlandPO Hoffer Glenville GAC DesignPFAS StudyFall 2023
Carthage, Town ofMoorePFAS Compliance Planning StudyPFAS StudyFall 2023
Martin County Regional Water and Sewer AuthorityMartinPFAS Eval. & Assessment Study for WTPPFAS StudyFall 2023
Graham, City ofAlamanceDrinking Water EC StudyPFAS StudyFall 2023
Norwood, Town ofStanlyNorwood PFAS Study ProjectPFAS StudyFall 2023
Siler City, Town ofChathamPFOS Compliance Planning StudyPFAS StudyFall 2023
South Granville Water and Sewer AuthorityGranvillePilot Evaluation and Planning StudyPFAS StudyFall 2023
Harnett CountyHarnettHarnett Regional WTP PFAS Pilot StudyPFAS StudyFall 2023
Johnston CountyJohnstonTGB WTP PFAS Treatment StudyPFAS StudyFall 2023
Rocky Point Topsail Water and Sewer DistrictPenderPFAS Treatment Alternatives StudyPFAS StudyFall 2023
Burlington, City ofAlamanceCity of Burlington EC StudyPFAS StudyFall 2023
Lumberton, City ofRobesonPFAS Study Water Treatment PlantPFAS StudyFall 2023
Piedmont Triad Regional Water AuthorityRandolphPFAS Study - RO Treatment SystemPFAS StudyFall 2023
AQUA North Carolina, Inc.CumberlandAQUA Brookwood Wells PFOS/PFOA Removal ProjectConstructionSpring 2023
AQUA North Carolina, Inc.Wake/DurhamAQUA Wyntree & Willow Hill Well Improvements ProjectConstructionSpring 2023
Cumberland CountyCumberlandGray's Creek Water and Sewer District (Cumberland County)ConstructionSpring 2023
Fuquay-Varina, Town ofWakeSanford WFF ExpansionConstructionSpring 2023
Rocky Point Topsail Water and Sewer DistrictPenderRO Water Treatment Plant and Associated ImprovementsConstructionSpring 2023
Sanford, City ofLeeSanford Water Filtration Facility (WFF) ExpansionConstructionSpring 2023