Drinking & Well Water Safety

Cumberland County is working to ensure that the public is kept informed about the presence of GenX and any other compounds in private drinking and surface water sources near the Chemours Plant, which is near the Cumberland and Bladen County line.

Visit the NC Department of Environmental Quality website for more information about understanding GenX and PFAS.

Cumberland County officials are closely monitoring water, soil, and air quality testing for GenX and are working to learn more about the compound’s health impacts.

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners approved the hiring of an engineering firm to complete a Preliminary Engineering report for extending water lines in the Gray's Creek Water and Sewer District. Commissioners also approved an Interlocal Agreement with the Public Works Commission to pay an equal share cost of the report. Click here for the news release.

EPA Drinking Water Information

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards for drinking water quality and regulates drinking water safety. Below are two helpful links with information about the EPA and drinking water requirements and safety:

• Drinking Water Requirements for States and Public Water Systems
  
• How EPA Regulates Drinking Water Contaminants

On April 10, 2024, EPA announced the final drinking water standards or Maximum Contaminant Levels to limit six PFAS compounds in drinking water.

Public water systems have five years to meet the new MCLs.

More information

• NC DEQ
• EPA

Well Water Safety

http://ehs.ncpublichealth.com/oswp/

Well Water Testing

Residents concerned about exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may want to test their drinking water and install filtration systems if needed. 

• PFAS Water Testing and Filtration Resources
• Well Sampling Information for Residents in Bladen, Cumberland, Robeson and Sampson Counties
• If you live near Chemours' Fayetteville Works facility, call Chemours at (910) 678-1101 to have your drinking water well sampled or for more information. For more information visit the NC Department Environmental Quality Website.  

NC DEQ Treatment Assistance Program

To assist North Carolina residents dealing with PFAS contamination in private drinking water wells, DEQ has established a pilot PFAS Reimbursement Program. The program provides some financial assistance for the purchase of treatment systems. For more information about eligibility and reimbursement, visit the NC DEQ website. 

Water Testing Scam Alert

The state Attorney General’s office is warning residents to beware of companies offering free water testing related to GenX.

Beware of companies that offer free water testing that requires an at-home visit because they claim that sending them a sample of your water “may spread the GenX contamination.” Also, be on the lookout for companies claiming that they can decontaminate wells or water supplies with miraculous but expensive products.

These claims, promoted through mailings, flyers and door-to-door solicitations, are highly questionable. Accurate testing requires a laboratory. It can’t be accomplished through in-home testing, which is easily manipulated to show contamination. And there are no miracle products that treat water for GenX contamination.

Please notify the Attorney General’s office immediately if you receive a GenX-related solicitation. Remember, exploiting fear is a favorite tactic of scam artists. When in doubt, verify that a company is legitimate by contacting the Better Business Bureau.

If you receive a GenX-related solicitation, report it to Kevin Anderson with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling 919-716-6006 or 1-877-5-NO-SCAM, or by filing a complaint online at http://www.ncdoj.gov/complaint.aspx.

For more maps and data, visit the GenX Groundwater section of the state's Department of Environmental Quality website.