WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – A new system that is filtering Wilmington and New Hanover County’s water supply appears to be working. At least that is according to a press release that was sent out by the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority.
CFPUA has recently installed a granular activated carbon filter system at the Sweeney Water Treatment Plant. According to their announcement, recent testing shows that no GenX or per-substances are currently being detected in the treated water. The latest test was completed on Oct. 7
GenX has been a topic of concern for the last several years after the substance was detected in the Cape Fear River and later in community’s water supply. This is a question that agents for Just for Buyers Realty get from time-to-time. What we know is at no time did the levels reach, according to CFPUA, limits that went above the federally standard safety limits. Still, we understand why people are concerned.
According to Cape Fear Public Utility Authority GenX was originally released into the water system by the Chemoours factory in Fayetteville and then migrated down to New Hanover County.
Public concern grew once it was discovered that Chemours had been dumping toxic chemicals into the Cape Fear River for decades. CFPUA worked alongside state and other local officials to address the issue. One plan was to build an eight deep-bed GAC filters at the plant, which provides drinking water to approximately 80 percent of New Hanover County residents.
The press release notes that of this month 100% of the water being sent from Sweeney to the water distribution system is being treated by the GAC filters. Testing shows that no PFAS compounds are currently being detected in the treated water.
Local leaders warn that the water in the Cape Fear River is still contaminated. “You know, our goal is for swimmable, fishable drinkable water,” said Cape Fear River Watch Executive Director Dana Sargent, “The water itself is not drinkable until it goes through multimillion-dollars worth of filtration.”
It cost $43 million to build the filter system with an estimated cost of $5 million per year to operate. To help cover the cost, homeowners have noticed an increase in their monthly water bill of up to 8.5%.
