State lawmakers fail to address toxic chemicals in our drinking water
Despite multiple opportunities this year, pro-polluter lawmakers have once again failed to address the dangerous discharge of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into our surface and drinking water.
North Carolina has been a ground zero for these “forever chemicals” for years. In 2017, public health scientists alerted the nation to the widespread contamination of GenX (a hazardous type of PFAS) in the Cape Fear River Basin. Traced directly back to Chemours’ Fayetteville Works facility, the pollution compromised the drinking water supply for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians. Nearly a decade later, Republican leadership has failed to deliver relief while corporate polluters escape full accountability.
Polluting company gets steal of a settlement; leaves North Carolinians footing the bill
Under the Trump Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency reached a recent settlement with the chemical giant Chemours. The settlement requires Chemours to pay $450 million in civil penalties and mitigation funds. While that figure might sound substantial, the reality is stark: the money is split among three states: North Carolina, West Virginia, and New Jersey. With North Carolina receiving the least amount of funding, this drastically dilutes its impact.
To put it in perspective, PFAS removal technology costs a single municipality tens of millions in upfront construction, plus millions more in annual operating expenses. For instance, Brunswick County, N.C., saw estimates for its water infrastructure rise from $63 million to $75 million in 2024 alone—roughly $1,000 per resident, excluding ongoing operations. When polluters fail to pay, government grants step in, indirectly shifting the burden onto taxpayers through higher rates and local taxes.
At a statewide scale, Chemours’ settlement is a drop in the bucket. It leaves North Carolinians footing the bill for toxic cleanup while ignoring the unquantifiable human cost—the chronic illnesses, medical bills, and lost lives tied to forever chemical exposure. It is a facade of accountability that ultimately lets a major polluter off the hook.
Environmental champion secures more funding for PFAS remediation
In stark contrast to federal shortcomings, state leaders are stepping up to hold polluters accountable and directly protect local communities. N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson and the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality recently secured nearly $600 million in dedicated funding for statewide PFAS remediation and water infrastructure recovery.
Unlike broad, multi-state settlements that leave local governments scrambling, these funds are specifically targeted to reach the water utilities and communities hit hardest by Chemours’ contamination. By aggressively pursuing direct legal remedies, Jackson’s actions ensure that clean water initiatives are funded by legal accountability rather than municipal debt or rate hikes on hardworking families. While removing PFAS out of the Cape Fear River watershed remains a monumental task, securing dedicated resources marks an important step in the fight to regulate PFAS pollution.
Why are PFAS so concerning for North Carolinians?
Exposure to some of the most well-studied PFAS, such as PFOA and PFOS, has consistently been linked to serious conditions including cancer, liver disease, heart attacks, and strokes as well as harm to children, infants, and pregnant people. Moreover, thousands of other chemicals that fall under the PFAS umbrella are chronically understudied, making appropriate risk assessments limited at best and impossible at worst. PFAS are now estimated to be present in the blood of 95% of the U.S. population.
Regulatory backsliding at federal and state levels
Recent regulatory maneuvers demonstrate how political decisions directly threaten clean water safeguards:
- Federal Safeguards Delayed: Following landmark 2024 EPA rules establishing maximum contaminant levels under the Safe Drinking Water Act, Trump’s EPA pushed back compliance deadlines and proposed repealing restrictions on four major PFAS compounds.
- State Commission Inaction: The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission—dominated by political appointees—caved to industrial pressures by stalling surface water limits and placing monitoring rules largely in the hands of corporate polluters. Today, more than 3.5 million North Carolinians drink water contaminated with unsafe PFAS levels.
- Legislative Failure in Raleigh: During the 2026 short session, lawmakers ignored comprehensive safeguards like the Water Safety Act (Senate Bill 1043) and PFAS Free NC (House Bill 881). Instead, they passed budget provisions in Senate Bill 257 that reclassify state research staff as legislative staff, making crucial legislative communications regarding pollution hidden from public records requests.
While corporate polluters like Chemours walk away with bargain-bin settlements, and federal and state regulators roll back critical safeguards, everyday citizens are left to pay the price—both with their utility bills and their health.
Until Raleigh and Washington align regulatory power with public safety, North Carolina communities must continue demanding full transparency, rigorous enforcement, and real accountability from the entities sworn to protect them.