Wastewater Visibility News
NCDEQ Study of Wastewater PFAS Concentrations Available
January 15, 2026
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and Wastewater Visibility News
As awareness rises of the concerns surrounding PFAS, state departments like the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality are taking measure of the impact to the state through wastewater and wastewater biosolid testing.
DEQ releases data from preliminary study of PFAS in biosolids, wastewater
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) has released data from a preliminary study that found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present in soil, wastewater and biosolids, the nutrient-rich organic material that remains after wastewater has been treated. The study is the agency’s first investigation assessing PFAS concentrations in biosolids across the state.
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals widely found in commercial, industrial and consumer products. PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment and can build up in humans and animals. Wastewater treatment plants can receive PFAS from residential, commercial and industrial sources. An estimated 3.5 million North Carolinians drink tap water that has PFAS levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health-based standard scheduled to go into effect in 2029. The deadline may be extended to 2031, according to an announcement by the agency. More information about PFAS can be found on DEQ’s website.
DWR staff began gathering samples in 2023 for the study, which evaluated PFAS concentrations in wastewater and biosolids from 37 municipal, industrial and domestic wastewater treatment facilities. Staff also tested soil collected from 19 fields that are regulated under non-discharge permits.
The study found PFAS compounds present in wastewater, biosolids and soil samples. Estimates found the majority of PFAS entering wastewater facilities on an annual basis is discharged into waterways, as compared with the amount entering the environment through land application of biosolids. An overview of the study, including background information and a summary of the results, is available online.
“The study represents a first step for DEQ to begin to understand PFAS concentrations in wastewater and biosolids in our state,” said Julie Grzyb, deputy director of the DEQ Division of Water Resources. “The study was based on a small sample size and was limited in scope, but it underscores the importance of characterizing and controlling PFAS contamination at the source.”
There are currently no federal or North Carolina state regulatory requirements for PFAS in biosolids. The study will inform future study design and identify opportunities for further data collection and analysis. Researching the movement of these chemicals in the environment was beyond the scope of the study.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead stewardship agency for the protection of North Carolina's environmental resources.
Tags:
PFAS
|
More Recent Posts
Mar. 05, 2026
Georgia Environmental Finance Authority advances $39.3 million in water infrastructure financing
Mar. 02, 2026
It’s Here! The State of the Florida Water Industry Survey 2026
Feb. 26, 2026
An Open Letter from U.S. Submergent Technologies on Our 15th Anniversary
Feb. 23, 2026
National Engineers Week 2026
Add Wastewater Visibility News to Google News
Subscribe
Get news delivered straight to your inbox the day it gets published."*" indicates required fields
