FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina has reached a nearly $600 million settlement with chemical manufacturers DuPont and Chemours, marking the largest settlement for environmental damages in state history. People in affected areas say the deal is a long-awaited step, but concerns remain about how it will translate into clean water for those affected by so-called “permanent chemicals.” Carrol Olinger, who says she has worked for years at a PFAS-contaminated school and now undergoes regular testing. dialysis, questioned the funds plan: “What are they going to do with that money? Are they going to put in reverse osmosis systems or some type of filtration system?” Olinger said, “Overall, I was healthy. And now I’m not. Go on dialysis three times a week, 4 hours and 15 minutes on the machine,” he added. According to North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Secretary Reid Wilson, “approximately 3.5 million North Carolinians currently drink water with PFOA levels above federal health standards in drinking water. That’s one in three people in this state.” In 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that Chemours dumped PFAS into the Cape Fear River, which supplies drinking water to half a million residents. The $455 million settlement forces the chemical companies to pay for years of damages and cleanup, said North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “This settlement is at least 20 times more than EPA was able to obtain for our state,” Jackson said. $380 million will be divided among 11 counties, including Cumberland, to fund water system improvements. said Cumberland County President Kirk deViere. The agreement also bolsters the state’s ongoing law enforcement efforts. According to the 2019 consent order, Chemours stopped discharging highly contaminated wastewater from its Fayetteville Works facility, built a mile-long underground barrier wall, installed multiple treatment systems and sampled nearly 27,500 wells in southeastern North Carolina for PFAS contamination. The company has also provided drinking water to thousands of residents. Kristie Allen, a Cumberland County resident, said, “They need to make sure that this translates into infrastructure, into safe water, so that our communities and our people know that they have access to safe drinking water.” Chemours will pay half of the deal, while DuPont and Corteva will cover the rest. Companies must also install additional pollution control technology. In a statement on its website, Chemours emphasized its progress, saying: “The agreement recognizes the significant investments and progress made under the 2019 Consent Order with the State of North Carolina, including substantial reductions in PFAS emissions from Fayetteville Works.” The agreement will be paid over 15 years. Olinger, who will be 70 by then, is thinking about the next generation. “I want by then my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, if I have any, to be able to not have to worry about bathing and drinking tap water.” The Cape Fear River supplies more than 500,000 people and businesses downstream. Chemours reports it has already spent nearly $1.2 billion to comply with state orders, with another $320 million expected. The EPA’s previous deal with Chemours this year promised just $90 million in environmental projects spread across three states, with no guarantee any would benefit North Carolina. Other PFAS lawsuits are ongoing, including a Cape Fear Utility Authority case seeking more cleanup funds for Wilmington and New Hanover County, and six separate cases against other manufacturers of firefighting foam that contain PFAS. A public meeting hosted by the state health department is scheduled for next Tuesday in Cumberland County to address community concerns. SEE ALSO | Our America: Problems in sight | Life with Forever Chemicals | Full Episode Episode 1 of “Our America: Trouble On Tap” looks at perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination in North Carolina. We traveled to Cape Fear, North Carolina, often called ground zero for PFAS water contamination or water contaminated by toxic “permanent chemicals.” Download the ABC11 News app to receive breaking news alertsCopyright © 2026 WTVD-TV. All rights reserved.
