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As North Carolinians admire the beautiful sunset on the waters of the Haw River, few would suspect themselves to be at the scene of significant pollution.
But for those familiar with the history of North Carolina’s constant contamination, the news is hardly surprising. As it winds through four counties, the Haw collects more than just rainwater– it also picks up the waste of industry along its banks.
Studies reveal that the Haw contains an abundance of two cancer-causing chemicals: PFAS and 1,4-Dioxane. Both have a multitude of sources, a variety of potential impacts, and disjointed responses from local governments.
The Haw River is more than an attraction. It’s the primary source of drinking water for over 700,000 Research Triangle, Raleigh-Durham residents. With information about these chemicals continuing to emerge, the extent of the river’s pollution only becomes murkier.
The Haw passes through Guilford, Stokes, Alamance, and Chatham counties before feeding into Jordan Lake.
What Are Forever Chemicals?
What Are Forever Chemicals?
PFAS and 1,4-Dioxane are called ‘forever chemicals’ for a reason. The pollutants last for over 100,000 years, immune to natural
breakdown.
From a commercial perspective, this longevity is excellent. PFAS are used to improve a variety of everyday products, including:
Creating non-stick surfaces on pots and pans
Keeping packaging like pizza boxes resistant to grease
Making clothing resistant to moisture and stains
While manufacturers pack PFAS into their products, 1,4-Dioxane sneaks into shampoo, detergents, and several cosmetic products. Overtime, habitiual use of these commodities washes the chemicals into the Haw.
“It’s an ecosystem's worst nightmare,” said Amy Barber, Director of the Burlington Stormwater Division. “They go into the water, then into the fish, and then could make their way into humans.”
PFAS and 1,4-Dioxane have been labelled carcinogens by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Health, respectively. The chemicals build up in an organism's tissues. A stockpile big enough increases someone's risk of kidney, breast, testicular, and prostate cancer.
“They should not be going into the river,” said Lisa Sorg, a reporter for Inside Climate News. “They probably present one of the greatest threats to human health, in part because it’s so impossible to combat.”
A History of Contamination
A History of Contamination
Boatman's team sampled fish from 5 sites along the Haw.
The fish tell the story. They’re full of forever chemicals, according to the recent work of a research team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, led by PhD student Anna Boatman.
“We knew there was a long history of pollution, specifically with PFAS, when it comes to the Haw,” Boatman said. “There is a lot of research regarding the water, but we wanted to see how it impacted the fish.”
Boatman’s team researched how forever chemicals accumulated within the Haw River fish, which could mimic a similar buildup in human drinkers.
The study found that PFAS levels within the Haw exceeded safety standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is strongly advised to avoid consuming any fish from the Haw River or Jordan Lake.
“It was the result we were expecting,” Boatman said. “The Haw is very industrial, and not considered clean. So we were not surprised.”
The list of contaminants includes higher erosion levels, untreated discharge from local wastewater treatment plants, chemical runoff from farm fields, runoff from fire-fighter foam, and many other unrecognizable non-point sources.
“It’s like a game of Whack-A-Mole,” Sorg said. “Advocates have been doing great work. But at some point, the state needs to step in.”
What Can Be Done?
What Can Be Done?
Just like whacking moles, the pollution of the Haw has been hard to pin down. But there have been victories. Look at the City of Greensboro.
The Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) is an EPA program that requires public water systems to test for drinking contaminants that are not currently regulated. 1,4-Dioxane, which is regulated in the Safe Drinking Water Act, was added to the UCMR in 2014.
That means that facilities like Greensboro's TZ Osborne Water Reclamation Facility were tasked with monitoring its 1,4-Dioxane levels. It was out of control.
TZ Osborne Water Reclamation Facility, located in Greensboro, NC
Greensboro’s 1,4-Dioxane discharge regularly exceeded 100 micrograms per liter, far beyond regular safety standards. In response, the government of North Carolina entered a special order by consent with Greensboro in 2021. The city had 3 years to significantly decrease the leaking of the chemical.
“The first step was finding out what the sources were,” said Kritisne Williams, Assistant Director of Greensboro Water Resources. “We feel like we found our two main contributors, which we then convinced to discontinue discharge of 1,4-Dioxane.”
The first source was Greensboro's wastewater treatment plant, TZ Osborne. The second was Hallstar, a chemical manufacturer with operations in Greensboro, which had been accidentally discharging 1,4-Dioxane into Greensboro's plant.
The two committed to monitor the chemical and limit mass discharges. By 2024, Greensboro reduced its levels of discharge under 23 micrograms – a 97% decrease.
A ‘Murky’ Future
A ‘Murky’ Future
Like Whack-A-Mole, with every mole hammered, another one seems to pop up.
In response to multiple discharge incidents over the past decade, the town of Pittsboro recently spent roughly $400 million to install a new water filtration system. Polluting companies upstream, such as Hallstar, did not contribute to the funding.
“That’s one of the biggest issues with this stuff entering the Haw,” Sorg said. “If you don’t have the filtration system, the people pay with their health. If you put the filtration system in, people pay higher water bills. Meanwhile, industry upstream is like ‘la-di-da’.”
The story of the Haw and forever chemicals presents a rollercoaster of outcomes. The Haw has been a victim of industrial activity for over 200 years. The issues of contamination are not going away.
But neither are its protectors.
“It can be discouraging sometimes, like you’re fighting a losing battle every single day,” Barber said. “But then other days, you see how many volunteers show up to a stream clean-up, and it reminds me that it’s an important job. People care.”
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