Raleigh, N.C. — State regulators told the chemical company under fire for releasing GenX into the Cape Fear River to supply more nearby residents with bottled water after tests showed elevated levels of the unregulated chemical in their water.
GenX is a detergent used to make Teflon and other products and is difficult to remove from drinking water sources.
The state instructed Chemours to supply water to users of 11 wells last week following initial test results. The additional eight wells announced Wednesday afternoon came after the state received new results from wells tested by both regulators and the company.
DEQ spokesman Jamie Kritzer said state regulators will continue to sample additional wells in the area and will also consider testing upon request.
The environmental agency, along with the state Department of Health and Human Services, will hold a community information session on the testing from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 in the Gray’s Creek Elementary School gym, at 2964 School Road in Hope Mills.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers will take up the issue of GenX and other so-called emerging contaminants in the Cape Fear River at a House committee meeting Thursday morning in downtown Raleigh.
Roy Cooper vetoed a measure from the Republican legislature to provide a fraction of the funding the governor requested to address the contaminants. Cooper said the bill would have weakened environmental protections and criticized lawmakers for failing to help undo years of cuts to DEQ and its regional regulators across the state. Republican leaders, who have said the governor has not moved quickly enough to address GenX, have vowed to override Cooper’s veto.