State officials in Georgia were aware nearly two decades ago that toxic chemicals known as PFAS were spreading from carpet mills in the northwest part of the state into rivers that serve as the region's main source of drinking water, according to an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Associated Press and FRONTLINE (PBS).
Forever Chemicals in the Water Supply
Since the 1970s, textile mills in northwest Georgia used perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to add stain resistance to carpets. The chemicals that did not adhere to the fibers were flushed with wastewater into local sewer systems and eventually into rivers. Decades later, these odorless, colorless compounds are pervasive in the environment and have been detected in the blood of local residents. Scientists have warned of associated health risks for humans and wildlife.
Despite the known dangers, Georgia's Environmental Protection Division (EPD) did little to address the contamination, even though states have the authority to set stricter regulations than the federal government. The federal government has yet to establish enforceable limits on PFAS in drinking water.
Key Findings from the Investigation
Watch and Wait Approach
Many residents in northwest Georgia report knowing someone whose health issues, including certain cancers, may be linked to PFAS exposure. Testing by the University of Georgia in 2008 revealed "staggeringly high" levels of PFAS in the Conasauga River, which supplies drinking water to the region. The state's own tests in 2012 and 2016 confirmed these findings, and federal tests still detected PFAS in 2019, the year major carpet manufacturers claimed to have stopped using the chemicals.
Local water utilities lack the advanced, costly technology needed to remove PFAS from river water. Georgia's EPD issued neither fish advisories nor do-not-drink orders, even as scientific concerns grew. Today, Georgia still does not regulate PFAS, unlike other states that have invested millions in cleanups and sued polluters.
Deputy Director of Georgia's EPD Anna Truszczynski stated that the agency looked to federal regulators for guidance and waited for better scientific understanding of PFAS risks. She noted that the EPD helped several cities by providing testing support, connecting them to funding sources, and advising on filtration technologies. "We believe that there can be a good balance between environment and economy," Truszczynski said. "We don't have to sacrifice one for the other."
Private Meeting with Industry
In 2008, the leader of Georgia's EPD met privately with carpet company representatives and the Carpet and Rug Institute. According to court deposition transcripts, then-Director Carol Couch indicated that the EPD had no plans to initiate regulatory action on PFAS and would likely revisit the issue in five years. One carpet executive thanked attendees for "gaining this good outcome."
Couch later stated that PFAS were only an "emerging concern" at the time and that the EPA had not established drinking water standards. She wrote, "To the Carpet and Rug Institute I offered no respite from state regulation of PFAS," adding that the five-year timeframe was typical for new water rules and that the EPD lacked sufficient science, expertise, and resources to act independently.
The Carpet and Rug Institute declined to comment, and Werner Braun, its former director, did not respond to requests for comment.
Blame Game
The two largest carpet companies, Shaw Industries and Mohawk Industries Inc., both based in the region, blame chemical suppliers 3M and DuPont for hiding the dangers of PFAS. The carpet companies say they followed regulatory guidance and note that no enforceable limits exist. In court filings, 3M and DuPont argue that the carpet industry was responsible for releasing PFAS into the waters. None of the four companies commented for this story.
Impact on Alabama
When PFAS appeared in Alabama's drinking water in 2016, officials looked to Georgia for answers. Eastern Alabama and northwest Georgia share a river system that feeds carpet mills and provides drinking water downstream. After tests showed PFAS levels exceeding EPA health guidelines, Alabama's environmental regulators asked Georgia's EPD for help identifying the source. Georgia had known for years that waters flowing from Dalton contained high PFAS levels.
According to Jim Giattina, former director of EPA's Water Protection Division, Georgia's EPD was "very defensive" and made "no commitment... to do any more monitoring." Truszczynski said she found no record of Georgia's response but stated, "We're always very happy to work with our friends in Alabama." Alabama's Department of Environmental Management did not respond to requests for comment.
Other States Take Action
In contrast to Georgia, states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine have committed millions of dollars for PFAS cleanup, launched testing programs, and sued polluters. A bipartisan group of Wisconsin lawmakers recently approved $133 million for PFAS cleanup. State Assembly member Jill Billings noted that state-led action becomes more critical as the federal government retreats from environmental regulations. "I think it's up to us to solve the problems of regular folks because the federal government seems to be struggling," she said.
The EPA has proposed limits on two PFAS chemicals widely used by carpet manufacturers, but these are not yet enforceable and are set to take effect in 2031.
