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CONTAMINANT

Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX)

FOUND

Exceeding guidelines

STATES DETECTED

1

serves

1.4 million

utilities detected

68

states detected

1

serves

415,000

utilities detected

9

Overview

Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. GenX and other perfluorinated chemicals can cause serious health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, accelerated puberty, liver and immune system damage, and thyroid changes. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and they accumulate in people. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 1 ppt

The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for GenX was defined by EWG as based on studies by Phillipe Grandjean of Harvard University and many other independent researchers who found reduced effectiveness of vaccines and adverse impacts on mammary gland development from exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the two PFAS most widely detected in drinking water.

ppt = parts per trillion

National Standard Exists

Health Concerns:

  • Cancer

  • Harm to the immune system

  • Hormone disruption

  • Harm to fetal growth and child development

  • Harm to the liver

Want to remove
Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX) from your water?

Try these filter technologies:

Activated Carbon, 

Reverse Osmosis, 

understand filter technology

Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX) around the Country

UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State Utilities People Served Utilities People Served
North Carolina9414,858681,369,023

Utilities with the highest amounts of GenX, 2021-2023

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
Utility Location Tests Average level People served
Bladen County Water Dist-east BladenElizabethtown, NC6 of 616.7 ppt3,889
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - Wilmington*Wilmington, NC10 of 126.29 ppt180,516
Holden Beach, Town ofHolden Beach, NC6 of 65.71 ppt6,358
Brunswick County Water System*Bolivia, NC6 of 65.71 ppt152,030
Ocean Isle Beach, Town of*Ocean Isle Beach, NC6 of 65.71 ppt7,925
Town of Oak IslandOak Island, NC6 of 65.71 ppt23,896
Southport, City ofCity Of Southport, NC6 of 65.71 ppt6,447
Pender County UtilitiesBurgaw, NC6 of 65.53 ppt30,506
The Village of Bald Head IslandBald Head Island, NC6 of 64.45 ppt3,291
Rain Tree II Fayetteville Public Works CommissionDenver, NC12 of 121.92 ppt292
Tanglewood South Mobile Home Park/fayetteville Public Works CommissionCharlotte, NC12 of 121.92 ppt259
Fayetteville Public Works Commission*Fayetteville, NC12 of 121.92 ppt214,137
Stedman, Town of*Stedman, NC12 of 121.92 ppt1,506
Eastgate S/d Fayetteville Public Works CommissionCharlotte, NC12 of 121.92 ppt205
Brettonwood Hills S/dDenver, NC12 of 121.92 ppt187
Kelly Hill S/dDenver, NC12 of 121.92 ppt109
Brookwood South/Fayetteville Public Works CommissionDenver, NC12 of 121.92 ppt2,357
Hoke County Regional--rockfishRaeford, NC12 of 121.92 ppt5,920
Northampton--progressiveJackson, NC6 of 61.43 ppt1,950
Weldon Water System*Weldon, NC6 of 61.43 ppt1,402
Williamston, Town ofWilliamston, NC6 of 61.20 ppt7,650
Martin County Water & Sewer District 2Williamston, NC6 of 61.20 ppt2,657
Martin County Regional WASA*Williamston, NC6 of 61.20 ppt0
City of LumbertonLumberton, NC6 of 60.630 ppt24,116
Longleaf Neuro-medical Treatment CenterRaleigh, NC6 of 60.314 ppt200
City of Wilson*Wilson, NC6 of 60.314 ppt50,001
Elm City, Town ofElm City, NC6 of 60.314 ppt1,450
City of Goldsboro*Goldsboro, NC6 of 60.230 ppt34,959
Seymour Johnson Air Force BaseSeymour Johnson, NC6 of 60.230 ppt6,875
Chatham Estates Mobile Home ParkLeland, NC5 of 60.208 ppt366
Cary*Cary, NC5 of 60.208 ppt212,000
Mobile EstatesLeland, NC5 of 60.208 ppt690
Town of Apex*Apex, NC5 of 60.208 ppt70,272
Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority*La Grange, NC4 of 60.169 ppt0
Bell Arthur Water CorporationBell Arthur, NC4 of 60.169 ppt10,635
Grifton, Town ofGrifton, NC4 of 60.169 ppt2,982
Ayden, Town ofAyden, NC4 of 60.169 ppt6,366
Eastern Pines Water CorpGreenville, NC4 of 60.169 ppt22,230
Deep Run Water CorporationDeep Run, NC4 of 60.169 ppt13,332
North Lenoir Water CorpKinston, NC4 of 60.169 ppt15,215
Pink Hill, Town ofPink Hill, NC4 of 60.169 ppt950
City of KinstonKinston, NC4 of 60.169 ppt27,475
Pittsboro, Town of*Pittsboro, NC2 of 60.0780 ppt5,053
Chapel Ridge S/dDenver, NC2 of 60.0780 ppt798
Carthage, Town ofCarthage, NC2 of 60.0740 ppt3,905
Nashville, Town of*Nashville, NC2 of 60.0710 ppt5,600
Central Nash Water & SewerNashville, NC2 of 60.0710 ppt5,881
Northern Nash Water DistrictNashville, NC2 of 60.0710 ppt915
Sharpsburg, Town ofSharpsburg, NC2 of 60.0710 ppt1,945
City of Rocky Mount*Rocky Mount, NC2 of 60.0710 ppt55,047

* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX) , but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - Wilmington*Wilmington, NC10 of 126.29 ppt180,516
Brunswick County Water System*Bolivia, NC6 of 65.71 ppt152,030
Town of Oak IslandOak Island, NC6 of 65.71 ppt23,896
Pender County UtilitiesBurgaw, NC6 of 65.53 ppt30,506
Fayetteville Public Works Commission*Fayetteville, NC12 of 121.92 ppt214,137
City of LumbertonLumberton, NC6 of 60.630 ppt24,116
City of Wilson*Wilson, NC6 of 60.314 ppt50,001
City of Goldsboro*Goldsboro, NC6 of 60.230 ppt34,959
Cary*Cary, NC5 of 60.208 ppt212,000
Town of Apex*Apex, NC5 of 60.208 ppt70,272
City of KinstonKinston, NC4 of 60.169 ppt27,475
North Lenoir Water CorpKinston, NC4 of 60.169 ppt15,215
Deep Run Water CorporationDeep Run, NC4 of 60.169 ppt13,332
Eastern Pines Water CorpGreenville, NC4 of 60.169 ppt22,230
Bell Arthur Water CorporationBell Arthur, NC4 of 60.169 ppt10,635
City of Rocky Mount*Rocky Mount, NC2 of 60.0710 ppt55,047
Flowers Plantation*Denver, NC2 of 60.0670 ppt10,704
Johnston County - West*Smithfield, NC2 of 60.0670 ppt70,549
ClaytonClayton, NC2 of 60.0670 ppt25,444
Bladen County Water Dist-West Bladen*Elizabethtown, NC1 of 60.0350 ppt12,014

* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX) , but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

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