North Carolina county to receive $23 million in PFAS settlement

Robeson County, North Carolina, will receive almost $23 million to improve its water quality after a settlement with DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva.

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson announced the $590 million agreement to address contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in state waters. The funding will be used for upgrades to public water treatment systems, including advanced filtration, and ongoing analysis of landfills.

County officials have already begun a pilot program at the Rocco Water Treatment Plant to prepare for these improvements. More than 500,000 people rely on the Cape Fear River for drinking water, and researchers found high PFAS concentrations there in 2016, prompting state action nearly a decade ago. This settlement builds on a 2019 order requiring Chemours to reduce pollution from its Fayetteville Works facility, where PFAS dumping began in the early 1970s.

While separate from a recent federal lawsuit concerning contamination from the county landfill, Robeson County intends to continue improving water quality with the settlement funds. Officials state the money will ensure residents have safe drinking water.