RALEIGH, NC — A preliminary study from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources has detected PFAS in soil, wastewater, and biosolids across the state. The review is the agency’s first broad assessment of PFAS levels in biosolids, the material left after wastewater treatment.
PFAS are man‑made chemicals used in a wide range of products and are known for their persistence in the environment. Because they do not break down easily, they can accum
ulate in people, wildlife, and soil. Wastewater systems can receive PFAS from residential, commercial, and industrial sources, allowing the chemicals to move through treatment plants and into biosolids applied to farmland.
The study estimates that about 3.5 million North Carolinians rely on tap water with PFAS levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new health‑based standard taking effect in 2029.
Residents in Brunswick and Columbus counties are among those affected, as both counties lie within the Cape Fear River Basin, an area with ongoing PFAS concerns.
In both counties, exposure can occur through drinking water, private wells, wastewater discharge, and biosolids used on agricultural land. PFAS can also accumulate in locally caught fish and wildlife, creating additional pathways for long‑term exposure.
There are currently no federal or state regulations governing PFAS levels in biosolids. State officials say the new data will guide future research and policy discussions.
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