Robeson County is staring down a potential federal courtroom fight after environmental lawyers accused the county of piping dangerously high levels of PFAS into residents' homes. Advocates say testing near the county's Rocco Water Treatment Plant found both PFOA and GenX at several times higher than federal safety limits, and they have now put officials on the clock with a formal notice of intent to sue.
SELC issues notice of intent to sue
According to a press release from the Southern Environmental Law Center, the notice, filed on behalf of Winyah Rivers Alliance and the St. Pauls Community Association for Progress, alleges that Robeson County is "knowingly supplying drinking water contaminated with unsafe levels of toxic PFAS." The groups warn the contamination could threaten more than 66,000 people who rely on the countywide water system.
What tests show near the Rocco plant
Per the Southern Environmental Law Center, independent testing at homes within roughly two miles of the Rocco Water Treatment Plant found PFOA levels more than three times higher than the EPA's enforceable drinking water limit, with GenX concentrations averaging about three times the federal limit. The group notes that the Rocco plant draws water from four public wells located within 4,500 feet of the Robeson County Landfill and says the plant's treatment setup is not designed to remove PFAS before the water is sent out to customers. "Every single home tested had unsafe levels of PFAS in its tap water," the release stated.
County says it's testing and has separate litigation
In a statement to WPDE, Robeson County officials said the county itself is a plaintiff in ongoing litigation against Chemours and has been carrying out what it called "extensive testing" with independent geologic engineers. The county says it is sharing data with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and plans to present an update to the Board of Commissioners. Officials also pointed out that under DEQ rules, any mitigation plan must be in place by 2027 and completed by 2029.
Federal standards and why they matter
PFAS, often called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body, have been linked to cancer, immune system impacts and other health problems, according to the EPA. The agency's drinking water rule sets enforceable maximum contaminant levels for several PFAS compounds, including PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion and GenX/HFPO‑DA at 10 parts per trillion. Public water systems must begin monitoring by 2027 and, if exceedances are found, have five years to put fixes in place.
Landfill history and local pressure
Environmental advocates and local reporting have zeroed in on the Robeson County Landfill as the likely culprit. The 537 acre site outside St. Pauls has taken in waste from PFAS using industries and, according to advocates, has a long record of groundwater issues. The Robesonian has chronicled residents repeatedly pressing county commissioners to stop sending landfill leachate into the system and to take the Rocco plant offline until PFAS contamination is addressed.
Demands and possible next steps
The groups behind the notice are urging Robeson County to move quickly. They want the county to provide alternative drinking water at no cost to affected residents, to swap out water from the Rocco plant with supply from another treatment facility, or to channel landfill revenues or state funds into PFAS removal technologies such as activated carbon, ion exchange or reverse osmosis. Those demands, along with the warning that a lawsuit will follow if officials do not act, were outlined by WPDE.
State resources for residents
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality offers guidance for residents on GenX and other PFAS and has previously ordered Chemours to expand well testing and provide either replacement water or whole house filtration for private wells that exceed certain thresholds. DEQ's resources explain who may qualify and how sampling works. Details on testing and assistance are available through the NC Department of Environmental Quality.
Robeson County commissioners are slated to receive an update, and community groups say they are prepared to pursue legal action if county leaders do not move swiftly to safeguard drinking water. For now, residents are waiting to see whether ongoing testing and state oversight turn into bottled water, upgraded treatment systems or other concrete protections for the tens of thousands of people who rely on the county's taps.
