In response to the rising interest in the public health effects associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 1,4-dioxane in drinking water sources,the Intensive Survey Branch (ISB) conducted a special study alongside our Ambient Lakes Monitoring Program to characterize the presence and concentrations of these emerging compounds (EC) in public drinking water supply reservoirs of the Neuse River basin. Beginning in May of 2020, ISB staff collected surface water samples for 1,4-dioxane and 28 different per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances at ambient lakes monitoring stations nearest to the surface water intake of ten public water supply reservoirs in the Neuse River basin. Analytical results indicated the presence of at least one PFAS analyte above the laboratory practical quantitation limit (PQL [2 ng/L]) in each waterbody during the 2020 sampling season. All 1, 4-dioxane samples collected during this study period were below the PQL (1.0 μg/L). It is important to note that all analytical data presented in this document reflect levels of target analytes detected in untreated surface waters, as opposed to finished drinking water.
