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The state Department of Environmental Quality said Thursday that preliminary test results showed residential water wells containing the little-studied compound GenX in amounts exceeding a state health target.
Delaware-based Chemours Co. said in a statement that it will provide neighbors whose wells showed elevated levels of the chemical free bottled water until a long-term solution is found.
It is similar to other chemicals suspected of increasing cancer risks.
Cooper said Thursday he would veto the measure sent to him three weeks ago. Now Republican legislators returning in early October must decide whether to try to override the veto — his 12th since taking office in January.
A plant upstream from Wilmington discharged the chemical into the Cape Fear River until recently.

Raleigh, N.C. — State regulators have ordered Chemours to supply bottled water to a group of residents near the chemical company’s Fayetteville Works plant after drinking water there showed elevated levels of GenX, used to make Teflon and other products.
The company, the chemical and several related compounds have been the center of an investigation since media reports widely revealed the presence of unregulated contaminants in the Cape Fear River, the primary source of drinking water for Brunswick, Bladen, New Hanover and Pender counties.
A news release from the Department of Environmental Quality on Thursday said the agency directed Chemours to supply bottled water to 11 homeowners near the Bladen County plant. Private wells on those 11 properties, one-third of the 32 wells sampled so far, exceeded the state’s health goal for GenX.
"We want to make sure people with elevated concentrations of GenX in their wells have an immediate alternative water source," DEQ Secretary Michael Regan said in the release. "Making sure people have clean drinking water is our top priority."
Roy Cooper’s office announced that he would veto legislation that would provide $435,000 for the cleanup and study of the chemicals discovered in the Cape Fear River. The legislation would also repeal a ban on plastic grocery bags along the Outer Banks. Cooper said the bill provided only a fraction of the $2.6 million he requested to take on the GenX issue, while weakening other environmental protections.
Republican leaders, who have criticized the Democratic governor’s response to the GenX revelations, slammed Cooper’s rejection of "the only proposal that will actually help clean our drinking water in the lower Cape Fear region" and vowed an override.

Officials in North Carolina have directed Chemours to provide bottled water to 11 homeowners near the company’s Fayetteville Works facility.
The company’s preliminary test results showed GenX levels above state health goals in residential drinking wells.
DEQ is testing private wells near the facility also, but in addition to testing for GenX, the state agency is also testing for two other fluorinated compounds, PFOA and PFOS.
Of 32 residential wells tested by Chemours, 11 homeowners had GenX levels above the state’s provisional public health goal. Most of the 11 wells with elevated GenX levels are north of the facility.
Out of an abundance of caution, the state directed the company to supply bottled water to residents after receiving word Friday of the first batch of preliminary test results, and then again on Tuesday when Chemours notified the state of another batch of preliminary results.
If tests reveal levels of any of the fluorinated compounds above established health goals, the state will direct Chemours to provide affected homes with alternative water and health information on the compounds.

Residents in the affected area that are immune-compromised are advised not to wash hands, shower or bathe.
Wash fruits and vegetables with bottled or boiled water.
Make new ice with bottled or boiled water.
To be safe, give your pets bottled or boiled water.
Use bottled water or boiled water that has been cooled.
Bath and shower: For a precautionary advisory, tap water may be used for patients with healthy immune systems.
Humidifiers and other equipment using water: Use boiled or bottled water.
Equipment/Carts should not be cleaned with tap water.
Use boiled water or bottled water to wash fruits or vegetables, and for all food & drink preparation.

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Natural supplies have run out in the indigenous town of San Felipe Ecatepec in the state of Chiapas, southern Mexico, meaning people must walk for two hours to fetch drinking water, one former local official said.
A nearby bottling plant, run by Mexican company FEMSA, consumed 1.08 million litres of water a day in 2016, according to reports.
Climate change and outbreaks of salmonella have exacerbated the problem.
In response to reports that it was leaving indigenous communities near San Chrisobal without water, FEMSA said it was "committed to the sustainable development of its associates, communities and the environment".
A spokesperson said: “We operate according with the legal framework and under internal processes to guarantee efficient water use.
Coca-Cola has previously come under fire in the country for the negative health impact of its sugary drinks. Mexico has high levels of obesity and more than 70 per cent of the population is overweight or obese.

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HAYWORTH, Ill. (WAND)- Residents of a mobile home park are relying on bottled water after testing revealed dangerous bacteria in their water supply earlier this summer.
In May and June, routine water samples at Country Lane Mobile Home Park indicated the presence of coliform in the park’s water supply, according to a complaint filed in McLean County court by the Illinois Attorney General’s office Friday, September 8. Samples performed in August also found the presence of E. Coli, according to the complaint.
Under an injunction agreed to by the Attorney General’s Office and the owners of the park on September 8, the park’s owners are required to provide residents with bottled water, maintain a boil order and operate a chlorination system installed in the water supply.
Residents who spoke with WAND Monday said they have been receiving bottled water and pointed out a large tank of clean water which had been delivered to the park.

Our view: Statewide testing of public school water for lead is paying off.
Soon, other districts found excessive lead in the water at schools, and Gov.
Chris Christie in May 2016 ordered mandatory testing for lead by all public schools in the state.
The state Board of Education adopted the regulation a couple of months later, giving districts 365 days to do the tests — by July 13, 2017.
As of the end of August, the department told NJ Spotlight 201 districts have notified the state that 397 schools have been found with unsafe levels of lead in their drinking water.
Lead can get into drinking water from old lead pipes or from systems that used lead-based solder to connect pipes.
Neither was banned from use in the United States until 1986, so buildings that predate the ban are likely to have lead issues.
Given that, finding excess lead in about 400 schools may be a pretty good result, if it stands.
There are 678 districts in the state and 2,518 schools, so the number where lead was found so far is less than one-fifth.
From the start, the university provided students with bottled water (377,000 bottles by last spring).

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Disaster Relief Network and the Central Texas Food Bank issued an urgent plea Saturday for more bottled water and canned food donations to help with Hurricane Harvey recovery.
“It’s natural for all of us to want to do something when a disaster hits,” said Lucas Cook, Austin musician and concert organizer.
Earlier this week, buses took some of the evacuees to Houston or Victoria.
The city said they will try their best to find housing for remaining people.
Port Arthur evacuees find shelter in tents About 250 tents have been put up in the parking lot in Port Arthur, Texas, as FEMA and county officials work on a long-term housing solution.
Each tent can house up to 14 people.
Men and women will be separated, and families will be kept together.
The mayor said the tents are temporary shelters where people can stay for about 30 days.
But he said that could be extended.
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Four Locations Provide Bottled Water Today For City of Cocoa Water Utilities Customers With No Water.
1 case per vehicle BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA –The State of Florida has arranged for the Florida Army National Guard to provide four (4) bottled water distribution points for those customers affected by the loss of water pressure from Hurricane Irma through coordination with Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, City of Cape Canaveral, City of Cocoa Beach and City of Cocoa.
The following sites will be providing bottled water (1 case per vehicle) beginning today immediately through 7 p.m. and continuing through the next two days from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. until the supplies are depleted.
• City of Cape Canaveral, 8550 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 (Northbound lane of Astronaut Blvd.)
• City of Cocoa, 801 Dixon Blvd., Cocoa, FL 32922 (Entrance South bound lane of US1) • Cocoa Beach, 1500 Minuteman Blvd., Cocoa Beach, FL 32932 (Minuteman Causeway at A1A) • Merritt Square Mall, 777 East Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, FL 32952 (Please use the South entrance off of Fortenberry Road) This is an effort to help provide bottled drinking water to customers of the City of Cocoa Water Utilities with no water service caused by Hurricane Irma.
Cocoa Utility Crews are continuing to work throughout the system to make sure each customer is receiving safe and quality water as quickly as possible.
However, even if there is pressure at your home, please remember there is an active precautionary boil water alert for the entire water system.

Bottled water companies make dubious claims to justify price: Choice.
CONSUMERS are being hung out to dry by trendy bottled water companies making murky claims about the healthiness of their products.
Some water bottlers insist their products contain higher levels of mineral salts than tap water to justify the expensive prices, while others say boosted levels of oxygen help mental and physical endurance.
An investigation by consumer advocacy group Choice has put a dampener on these claims, finding that bottled water is no safer or healthier to drink than water from the tap.
Sydney Water charges just $2 for 1000 litres of filtered water — a bargain when compared with about $3.50 for just 600ml of bottled water.
“Although industry research shows Australians believe bottled water is safer and tastier than tap water, beverage companies are only required to test their products once a year but tap water is tested regularly,” Choice spokeswoman Kate Browne said.
Australian Artesian Water claims its water is filled with healthy mineral salts which are rapidly absorbed into the body and assist with cleansing.
But Choice tested the fancy water and found that tap water contained more minerals.
“These claims are as thin as the air that comes out of the water once it’s extracted from the ground,” Ms Browne said.
Senior analyst Samuel Johnson said Sydneysiders buy bottled water for convenience: “Demand for convenience is anticipated to outweigh consumer concern surrounding the significant price premium.”