May 12 is our opportunity to stop polluter written PFAS "minimization" rules. We are counting on our communities to show up in mass to speak up for our river and ensure that our state agencies have the authority to hold polluters accountable. We're providing you with background on the rules, talking points to build out your comments (up to 3 minutes, but could be as short as you like!) and parking information.

Tell the Environmental Management Commission to prioritize our health over the profits of polluters!

📍 Guilford Technical Community College,:May 12, 2026

HEARING BEGINS AT 6:00 PM. SIGN-IN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BEGINS AT 5:00 PM.

Percy H. Sears Applied Technologies Building

1201 Bonner Dr.

Jamestown, NC

The Environmental Management Commission (EMC) is accepting comments and has been holding a series of public hearings on their draft rules for PFAS and 1,4-dioxane. Unfortunately, the EMC’s rules will not protect public health. These rules were written by the polluters themselves and have no real restrictions or consequences for continued discharges of these toxins, even if the levels increase.

You have been showing up in-person hearings!! We are so grateful, but also, we recognize that attending in person is not a privilege all of us can afford. Please use this form to submit a written comment:

If you are unable to attend in person, written comments may also be submitted by email to publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with the subject title “PFAS  + 1,4-dioxane minimization” through June 15. Written comments may also be submitted by mail to: Karen Preston, DEQ-DWR NPDES Permitting Section, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617.

All hearings begin at 6pm, but sign in for comments begins at 5pm. These hearings are structured as either PFAS or 1,4-dioxane, not both. This structure makes it complicated for the public, so we encourage you to speak on either compound, or both, at the public hearings, but include the following statement in both your written and spoken comments:

“I request that this comment be included in the public record for both the proposed 1,4-dioxane monitoring and minimization rules and the PFAS monitoring and minimization rules.”

Please have a written copy of your comment ready to turn in after your comments, with the previous line at the top of the written copy.

Here are a few talking points for you on both PFAS and 1,4-dioxane. We encourage you to use these as a guide, but the most effective comment will be personal.  How does this affect YOU and your family? Your drinking water and health matters.

As a reminder, include the following sentence in your comment:

“I request that this comment be included in the public record for both the proposed 1,4-dioxanemonitoring and minimization rules and the PFAS monitoring and minimization rules.”

About the “rules”:

The EMC plans to adopt a set of rules that were written by polluters and would allow nearly 500 industrial facilities across our state to continue to dump toxic PFAS and 1,4-dioxane into our rivers and drinking water supplies.

Rather than require industries and wastewater plants to reduce their chemical pollution, these rules only tell dischargers to collect a handful of samples and to write a plan for how they could reduce pollution. There are no consequences or penalties if the polluter fails to cut its pollution—not even if the polluter increases its toxic discharges.

How should the EMC move forward? North Carolinians deserve strong rules that protect people over polluters. Instead of pursuing toothless rules, the EMC should work toward health-based water quality standards for PFAS and 1,4-dioxane.

About 1,4-dioxane

• 1,4-dioxane is a clear industrial liquid used as a solvent and sometimes created as a byproduct of manufacturing PET plastics — the kind used in plastic bottles and polyester.  

• 1,4-dioxane is carcinogenic and long-term exposure can also damage the liver and kidneys.

• For at least ten years, NC families have been exposed to high concentrations of 1,4-dioxane. The city of Asheboro’s wastewater treatment plant has discharged 1,4-dioxane into Hasketts Creek, which flows into the Deep and Cape Fear Rivers — threatening the drinking water of up to 900,000 North Carolinians in communities including Sanford, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Pittsboro, Holly Springs, and Fuquay-Varina.

• Conventional drinking water treatment systems do not remove 1,4-dioxane from water.  

• North Carolina has some of the worst 1,4-dioxane pollution in the nation. North Carolinians may be exposed to concentrations more than double the national average.

• Where is the pollution coming from?The Asheboro Waste Water Treatment Plant accepts industrial waste from StarPet, a large industrial facility that manufactures PET polymers used in plastic bottles and polyester. Cities of Greensboro and Burlington have also released high discharges of 1,4-dioxane.

• What has been done about Asheboro’s pollution so far?The state tried to end Asheboro’s 1,4-dioxane discharges, but the city sued. The EPA supported the state’s action in 2024 and just recently a court ruled in favor of the state. However, Asheboro has appealed and for now the issue remains unresolved.

About PFAS

• PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s. They are found in nonstick cookware, water-resistant clothing, firefighting foam, and food packaging. PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body.

Exposure to PFAS has been linked to serious health effects, including:

- Cancer, including kidney and testicular cancer

- Thyroid disease and hormone disruption

- Immune system damage, including reduced vaccine effectiveness

- High cholesterol and cardiovascular disease

- Developmental harm in children and infants

• North Carolina has been at the center of the national PFAS crisis. In 2019, Haw River Assembly worked with Southern Environmental Law Center to file a Notice of Intent to the City of Burlington for PFAS discharges into the Haw exceeding 33,000 ppt. The Chemours chemical plant along the Cape Fear River has discharged PFAS into the river, which supplies drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents in the Wilmington area and beyond.

• As more testing has been done across the state, we have found PFAS at dangerous levels in multiple drinking water systems. Despite years of community response, advocacy, and legal action, more than 3.5 million North Carolinians drink water with unsafe levels of PFAS.

• Through litigation to hold polluting industries accountable, we have seen that wastewater treatment plants CAN reduce their PFAS and 1,4-dioxane levels in their discharges by using their pretreatment authority. These rules allow the industries to continue, or even increase, these toxic discharges without consequence.

Chatham County Enbridge Pipeline Meeting

Haw River Assembly, 7 Directions of Service, Clean Water for North Carolina, the Deep River Riverkeeper, and community partners are co-sponsoring a discussion on a newly proposed fracked-gas pipeline in Chatham County.

If you received a letter from Enbridge Gas NC or Doyle Land Services in mid-April, this meeting is for you. We're gathering Wednesday, May 13th from 6:30 to 8 PM at Forest Hall, Chatham Mills (480 Hillsboro St, Suite 530, Pittsboro).

An eminent domain attorney and environmental justice experts will be present to discuss your rights and the health and safety risks of this proposed pipeline. This meeting is open to the public, but we are prioritizing impacted landowners who have received contact from Enbridge. Come share your concerns, learn about next steps, and connect with neighbors and organizations working to protect the Haw River.  

 RSVP HERE.

Join JT Tate and his team from "Casting Your Cares Fishing" to learn the fishing basics and have the chance to practice your fishing skills. Casting Your Cares Fishing is a non-profit out of Durham that aims to foster community camaraderie and alleviate tension and anxiety while learning an enjoyable hobby. They will provide participants with fishing rods and reels and bait. Registration is $5 per person. We ask that all participants be 5 years of age or older. 

*You do not need a fishing license to participate in this event. Catch & release protocols will be implemented*

Attire: Dress comfortably and prepare to be onshore 

Bring: Water, sunglasses, and any needed personal items 

Participants will receive an email the week of confirming your attendance and giving you details in preparation for the event. This event is non-refundable.

REGISTER HERE!

Join Xplore Kayak and Haw River Assembly for a guided paddle at Farrington Point! Open to both new and experienced paddlers, this outing includes all equipment—kayaks, paddles, and life jackets are provided. Raphael Darden of Xplore Kayak will kick things off with helpful tips and kayaking basics before leading a group paddle on beautiful Jordan Lake. Participants will paddle together at a relaxed pace, enjoying the scenery and time on the water.

SIGN UP HERE!

Did you know that tiny river critters can tell us a lot about water quality? Join the Haw River Assembly for a family-friendly macroinvertebrate workshop and discover how these fascinating creatures help us monitor the health of the Haw River!

This hands-on event is part of the Haw River Assembly's River Watch program and is an informative event for both seasoned volunteers and curious newcomers. You’ll learn how to identify macroinvertebrates and what their presence in our local waterways means!

Register here!

Come volunteer to help us remove trash from our litter traps! These traps sit in urban creeks and streams, keeping manmade trash from entering main waterways. These devices are built to withstand the rigors of flashy rain events yet are passive enough not to harm the local fauna. Roadside littering accounts for approximately 75% of the trash in our nation’s waterways. Each time it rains, trash is funneled through our storm drain systems directly into our creeks. No filters or other mechanisms are in place to keep the trash from entering our waterways. We have multiple trash trap locations in the watershed, so please check out our form below to find the one closest to you!

Sign up for our Trash Trap list-serv here for updates and receive the monthly form confirming your attendance. Volunteers must pre-register in advance to ensure we have enough equipment for all and have enough staff or Trash Trap leaders onsite.

Looking to start a River Watch team? Join us for our quarterly scheduled training on Saturday, June 6, 2026 (10 AM – 12 PM), right before collection time! New teams require training and can sign up here. Are you already in an existing team but want to review some basics? You can join us too! Just email events@hawriver.org.

2026 Date: June 14th

REGISTER HERE!

Hawesome is a benefit concert for the Haw River Assembly where the venue is the Haw River itself! The artists play from a dock on Saxapahaw Lake while you enjoy the show from paddleboard, kayak or canoe! $30 of your ticket price goes straight to the HRA, who help clean & protect our beloved river.

This year, Hawesome goes BIG — one unforgettable evening on the Haw River with over 3 hours of live music, beautiful scenery, and community connection. What began as a beloved neighborhood benefit series returns for its most ambitious event yet: a single, spectacular gathering that brings together music lovers, paddlers, and river stewards for a night you won't soon forget.

Imagine drifting on the water in your canoe or kayak, the gentle current beneath you, trees along the bank, and live music drifting across the surface of the Haw River. The musicians play from the dock, the audience floats on the river — an experience unlike any concert you've ever attended. It's intimate, it's wild, and it's deeply, beautifully connected to the natural world.

This is Hawesome 2026: an evening to celebrate and support the organizations, artisans, and adventurers who bring life and community to the Haw River — the crown jewel of this area we all love. Slip into a boat, gather with your people, and let the music carry you.

Come volunteer to help us remove trash from our litter traps! These traps sit in urban creeks and streams, keeping manmade trash from entering main waterways. These devices are built to withstand the rigors of flashy rain events yet are passive enough not to harm the local fauna. Roadside littering accounts for approximately 75% of the trash in our nation’s waterways. Each time it rains, trash is funneled through our storm drain systems directly into our creeks. No filters or other mechanisms are in place to keep the trash from entering our waterways. We have multiple trash trap locations in the watershed, so please check out our form below to find the one closest to you!

Sign up for our Trash Trap list-serv here for updates and receive the monthly form confirming your attendance. Volunteers must pre-register in advance to ensure we have enough equipment for all and have enough staff or Trash Trap leaders onsite.

Come volunteer to help us remove trash from our litter traps! These traps sit in urban creeks and streams, keeping manmade trash from entering main waterways. These devices are built to withstand the rigors of flashy rain events yet are passive enough not to harm the local fauna. Roadside littering accounts for approximately 75% of the trash in our nation’s waterways. Each time it rains, trash is funneled through our storm drain systems directly into our creeks. No filters or other mechanisms are in place to keep the trash from entering our waterways. We have multiple trash trap locations in the watershed, so please check out our form below to find the one closest to you!

Sign up for our Trash Trap list-serv here for updates and receive the monthly form confirming your attendance. Volunteers must pre-register in advance to ensure we have enough equipment for all and have enough staff or Trash Trap leaders onsite.

Come volunteer to help us remove trash from our litter traps! These traps sit in urban creeks and streams, keeping manmade trash from entering main waterways. These devices are built to withstand the rigors of flashy rain events yet are passive enough not to harm the local fauna. Roadside littering accounts for approximately 75% of the trash in our nation’s waterways. Each time it rains, trash is funneled through our storm drain systems directly into our creeks. No filters or other mechanisms are in place to keep the trash from entering our waterways. We have multiple trash trap locations in the watershed, so please check out our form below to find the one closest to you!

Sign up for our Trash Trap list-serv here for updates and receive the monthly form confirming your attendance. Volunteers must pre-register in advance to ensure we have enough equipment for all and have enough staff or Trash Trap leaders onsite.

Nature Journaling the Haw River

Slow down. Look closer. Make connections. Nature journaling is a powerful practice that can help you sharpen observational skills and engage more deeply with our ecosystem.

This workshop will begin with a short lecture on the concept of nature journaling, including tips to jump-start your practice. It will also provide an overview of the Haw River watershed, including habitats, flora, and fauna. Participants will then take a short hike along the river to reinforce this information and search for drawing inspiration. Lastly, the group will spend time journaling on a common theme.

Participants will receive a resource guide that covers the ideas discussed, as well as Haw-specific journaling prompts and sample drawings. There is no artistic skill required. (We promise.) Children who can engage in the activities listed above are welcome to attend. Please bring water, a notebook (preferably unlined), and a pencil. Optional: Pens, colored pencils, watercolors.

REGISTER HERE!

Date: Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

(This activity is weather dependent. Rain date: September 26)

Location: Haw River Trail trailhead in Saxapahaw Village

Directions: Park in Saxapahaw Village (1711 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Rd., Graham, NC 27253). Walk down the amphitheater steps. Cross the parking lot toward the river. Walk down the metal stairs to the trailhead and picnic table area. (These stairs can be slippery!)

Terrain: Once you reach the bottom of the stairs, the trail is mostly flat. However, it is sandy and uneven, with exposed rocks and roots. It can become slick when wet.

What to bring: Water, a notebook (preferably with unlined pages), and a pencil. Optional: pens, colored pencils, watercolors.

Looking to start a River Watch team? Join us for our quarterly scheduled training on Saturday, September 12, (10 AM – 12 PM), right before collection time! New teams require training and can sign up here. Are you already in an existing team but want to review some basics? You can join us too! Just email events@hawriver.org.

Come volunteer to help us remove trash from our litter traps! These traps sit in urban creeks and streams, keeping manmade trash from entering main waterways. These devices are built to withstand the rigors of flashy rain events yet are passive enough not to harm the local fauna. Roadside littering accounts for approximately 75% of the trash in our nation’s waterways. Each time it rains, trash is funneled through our storm drain systems directly into our creeks. No filters or other mechanisms are in place to keep the trash from entering our waterways. We have multiple trash trap locations in the watershed, so please check out our form below to find the one closest to you!

Sign up for our Trash Trap list-serv here for updates and receive the monthly form confirming your attendance. Volunteers must pre-register in advance to ensure we have enough equipment for all and have enough staff or Trash Trap leaders onsite.

Come volunteer to help us remove trash from our litter traps! These traps sit in urban creeks and streams, keeping manmade trash from entering main waterways. These devices are built to withstand the rigors of flashy rain events yet are passive enough not to harm the local fauna. Roadside littering accounts for approximately 75% of the trash in our nation’s waterways. Each time it rains, trash is funneled through our storm drain systems directly into our creeks. No filters or other mechanisms are in place to keep the trash from entering our waterways. We have multiple trash trap locations in the watershed, so please check out our form below to find the one closest to you!

Sign up for our Trash Trap list-serv here for updates and receive the monthly form confirming your attendance. Volunteers must pre-register in advance to ensure we have enough equipment for all and have enough staff or Trash Trap leaders onsite.

Join us for a group paddle courtesy of Frog Hollow Outdoor!

The Fall event will take place on Saturday, October 24, from 10 am to 12 pm at Fearrington Point. Participants will be led by an instructor and expected to paddle together for a beautiful day on the water! Admission is free, but boat availability is limited. Secure your spot today here: 

Come volunteer to help us remove trash from our litter traps! These traps sit in urban creeks and streams, keeping manmade trash from entering main waterways. These devices are built to withstand the rigors of flashy rain events yet are passive enough not to harm the local fauna. Roadside littering accounts for approximately 75% of the trash in our nation’s waterways. Each time it rains, trash is funneled through our storm drain systems directly into our creeks. No filters or other mechanisms are in place to keep the trash from entering our waterways. We have multiple trash trap locations in the watershed, so please check out our form below to find the one closest to you!

Sign up for our Trash Trap list-serv here for updates and receive the monthly form confirming your attendance. Volunteers must pre-register in advance to ensure we have enough equipment for all and have enough staff or Trash Trap leaders onsite.