State regulators are pressing Chemours to do more about PFAS, the “forever chemicals” that have shown up in groundwater and private wells across the Lower Cape Fear. On Nov. 9, 2026, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) said it had found significant deficiencies in Chemours’ plans to assess and clean up that contamination, and it told the company what has to change. WECT reported on the action Nov. 11. If you own a home on a private well in Brunswick County, or you’re shopping for one in rural Leland, Winnabow, Boiling Spring Lakes or elsewhere in the region, here is what changed and what to check.
What DEQ Told Chemours to Do
DEQ sent comments to the company on its On and Offsite Assessment and Corrective Action Plan, which falls under a 2019 Consent Order. Among other things, DEQ directed Chemours to:
- Fully assess contaminated soil and groundwater throughout the Lower Cape Fear region, along with any risks to human health and the environment.
- Revise its Corrective Action Plan to restore contaminated groundwater in compliance with state law.
- Expand the plan to cover all PFAS associated with its Fayetteville Works facility, not just a limited subset.
- Evaluate how remaining emissions from the facility affect groundwater and develop a plan to address those impacts.
DEQ said Chemours has spent about $1.2 billion complying with the Consent Order but still has not finished assessing how far PFAS has spread or produced an adequate cleanup plan. “Today’s direction to the company makes clear that DEQ expects Chemours to clean up all the areas they have polluted,” DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson said, according to WECT. “DEQ will hold Chemours accountable no matter how long it takes.”
What Has Already Been Done
DEQ also listed the steps Chemours has taken since the Consent Order. The company stopped discharging highly contaminated wastewater from Fayetteville Works, built a subsurface barrier wall more than a mile long with a treatment system to keep PFAS out of the Cape Fear River, and installed systems to treat groundwater, stormwater and air emissions. According to DEQ, it has sampled about 27,500 household wells in southeastern North Carolina and offered filtration systems to about 10,500 families whose wells are polluted with PFAS.
DEQ described the Nov. 9 action as a major step in a process laid out in a September 2026 settlement among Chemours, the state, and counties and municipal water systems.
Why Brunswick County Well Owners Should Pay Attention
Most Brunswick County homes on county water are served by the public utility system. Our earlier post on the county’s PFAS reverse osmosis water plant covers that side. Private wells are a separate question. According to DEQ’s well sampling page, DEQ directed Chemours to sample private drinking water wells in four downstream counties: New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus and Pender.
DEQ’s page lists the eligibility criteria. A well generally qualifies if it is the property’s primary drinking water source and meets at least one location test: it sits in the 100-year floodplain of the Cape Fear River, it is within a quarter-mile of public water or sewer lines, or it is within a quarter-mile of known PFAS results above the Consent Order criteria. DEQ says owners who don’t qualify now may qualify later, and that Chemours must keep their contact information and notify them if testing expands to their area. Contact details for requesting sampling are on DEQ’s page.
Tips for Buyers and Sellers
If you’re buying a home on a well
- Ask the seller whether the well has been tested for PFAS and request copies of any results or filtration agreements.
- Use your due diligence period to arrange water testing. A standard home inspection usually doesn’t include PFAS testing. Our Cape Fear home inspection guide explains how to plan add-on tests.
- Find out whether public water is available at the street, and what connecting would involve.
If you’re selling
- Gather any sampling results, filtration system paperwork and maintenance records before you list.
- Talk with your agent and, if needed, an attorney about what you know and how to answer disclosure questions accurately.
Buying land with a new well? Our rural acreage buyer’s guide covers wells, septic and other checks.
FAQ: Chemours, PFAS and Private Wells
What did DEQ announce on Nov. 9, 2026?
DEQ said Chemours’ assessment and corrective action plan has significant deficiencies. It directed the company to fully assess contamination across the Lower Cape Fear, cover all facility-associated PFAS, and revise its plan to restore groundwater.
Is Brunswick County included in well sampling?
Yes. DEQ’s well sampling page lists New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus and Pender as the four downstream counties where Chemours samples private drinking water wells, subject to eligibility criteria.
Did DEQ set a deadline for Chemours’ revised plan?
The Nov. 9 press release we reviewed did not state a response deadline.
Does this affect homes on county water?
This action is about Chemours’ groundwater assessment and cleanup. Questions about public water quality are best answered by your water provider’s published reports.
Questions About a Home on a Well?
Buying or selling a rural property in the Lower Cape Fear takes local knowledge, from wells and septic to utility access. Talk with Aspyre Collective and we’ll help you plan the right checks before you commit.
