News Summary
A national study by the Waterkeeper Alliance reveals the Pocotaligo River in South Carolina has the highest levels of hazardous PFAS chemicals in the U.S. The contamination poses serious health risks for local communities, particularly for those consuming fish from the river. The aging wastewater treatment plant in Sumter has been identified as the main source of PFAS pollution. This alarming finding raises environmental justice concerns as it disproportionately impacts low-income families and communities of color.
Sumter, South Carolina – A national study conducted by the Waterkeeper Alliance has revealed that the Pocotaligo River in South Carolina is afflicted with the highest levels of hazardous PFAS chemicals among waterways assessed across the United States. This significant finding raises serious public health concerns for those consuming fish from the river, particularly for residents in nearby Sumter and Clarendon counties, as well as individuals living downstream.
The aging wastewater treatment plant in Sumter has been identified as the primary source of this PFAS pollution. This facility is known to process wastewater from various industries that engage with these toxic chemicals, including sectors such as metal coating, plastics, chemical manufacturing, and textiles. Moreover, military installations, notably the Shaw Air Force Base, have been identified as potential sources of PFAS due to their documented releases that have contaminated local groundwater.
The treatment process at the Sumter Pocotaligo sewer plant is inadequate for filtering out PFAS contaminants, a common deficiency among wastewater treatment plants throughout the country, which are mainly designed to address bacteria and specific pollutants. The specific section of the Pocotaligo River located downstream from the sewage treatment facility has been labeled the “most contaminated location detected” in a comprehensive study covering 19 states, including California and Connecticut.
Measurements taken from the Pocotaligo River have indicated that levels of PFAS exceed 228 parts per trillion, markedly higher than the next recorded levels, which are 144 parts per trillion in North Carolina’s Haw River and 117 parts per trillion in California’s Santa Ana River. The data demonstrates that PFAS levels downstream from the sewage plant are over 100% greater compared to those observed upstream, indicating a concerning trend of pollution.
PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment, are linked to various serious health issues, including certain cancers, immune system deficiencies, and thyroid disorders. These compounds can accumulate in human blood and remain for extended periods. Such concerns are particularly acute for subsistence fishermen who depend on local fish as a primary food source, as PFAS can bioaccumulate in fish flesh, posing substantial health risks when consumed. Additionally, mercury—a recognized neurotoxin—has been detected in fish within the Pocotaligo and other rivers, compounding the health risks to local communities.
The communities surrounding the sewage treatment facility largely consist of low-income families and people of color, which raises pressing issues surrounding environmental justice and the health impacts on these vulnerable populations. Experts believe that the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services has failed to address the PFAS pollution issue adequately, which poses long-term challenges for the region.
Given the degradation of local groundwater supplies, PFAS contamination could hinder future initiatives aimed at establishing potable drinking water sources from the Pocotaligo River. Recent testing indicates that over 98% of the rivers tested nationwide showed some degree of PFAS contamination, with most rivers below wastewater treatment facilities reporting elevated levels of these harmful substances.
The Waterkeeper Alliance has reported that since 2022, more than 80% of evaluated waterways in the U.S. contained at least one kind of PFAS. Specific measurements from the Pocotaligo River downstream of the Sumter plant revealed alarming levels, including 30 parts per trillion of PFOS—the highest ever recorded—and 28 parts per trillion of PFOA, marking the second-highest level identified nationally. The study underscores the urgent need to address PFAS pollution, especially as many sites are revealing contamination levels that exceed regulatory limits.
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Additional Resources
- The State: Pocotaligo River PFAS Findings
- Wikipedia: PFAS
- WPDE: DHEC Concerns Over PFAS
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Chemical Contamination
- The State: Environmental Concerns in SC
- Google Search: PFAS contamination health effects
