Texfi Fact Sheet
Background: The N.C. Division of Waste Management (Division) is responsible for reviewing assessment and remedial action plans for properties contaminated with hazardous substances. Hazardous substances have been identified in both soil and groundwater on the Texfi Industries, Inc. (Texfi) property located at 601 Hoffer Drive in Fayetteville, Cumberland County.
The division has directed Texfi to undertake activities to assess the extent of the contamination in soil, groundwater, surface water and sediment. Because groundwater contamination has migrated from the Texfi property to the Hoffer Water Plant property, the division is directing Texfi to take immediate actions to address the spread of contaminants near the Hoffer plant’s finished water holding tank (identified as "clear well" on the map).
The division considers the site a priority for action due to the contamination’s proximity to the City of Fayetteville’s water plant intakes and finished water holding tank and to the Cape Fear River. The city of Fayetteville Public Works Commission has sampled both their intake water and water from the clear well. No contaminants from the Texfi site were detected in these samples. PWC will continue to monitor the finished water in the clear well to assure the continued safety of the city of Fayetteville’s drinking water.
Texfi Industries operated a textile dyeing and finishing operation at the Hoffer Drive facility between on or about 1969 and 1999. Various operations, tanks, and drains are suspected to have released chemicals to the soil and groundwater.
The Texfi site is located adjacent to the Cape Fear River. The lot is 95.6 acres in size and was the location of a manufacturing facility that closed in October 1999. Since its initial development in 1968, the site contained a textile production facility involved in yarn preparation and weaving, fabric dyeing and finishing. The surrounding properties consist mainly of residential and undeveloped areas with the exception of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission’s P.O. Hoffer Water Treatment plant.
The Public Works Commission recently received the Directors Award from the Partnership for Safe Water program. The Partnership for Safe Water is a national volunteer initiative developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other water organizations for water suppliers wanting to provide their community with drinking water quality that is far better than required by federal standards. The Director’s Award was presented to PWC after successfully completing Phase Three Self-Assessment, which was a comprehensive self-assessment of the PWC treatment facilities. PWC is the first utility in the state of North Carolina to complete this rigorous phase and one of only about 1,000 utilities throughout the United States to have received the honor.
How do I know my water is safe to drink?
It has been tested and the results show it is safe to drink. Under state and federal law, all public water treatment plant routinely test the water before it is distributed to the public. No contamination has been noted in the water at the Hoffer plant, but should any show up, it will be detected and stopped before it reaches the public.
What is dyeing and finishing?
Dyeing adds color to polyester fabric and finishing applies a final coating to fabric. One example is the waterproof coating applied to raincoats which makes them waterproof.
Why did Texfi use hazardous chemicals?
Some cloths and fabrics soak up dye more easily than others. When surfaces are resistant to dye absorption, these chemicals can be applied to the fabric so it will accept dyes more easily.
Do chlorinated solvents smell?
Yes. Most have a distinctive sweet odor somewhat like chloroform.
How do chemicals spilled on land adjacent to the water treatment plant travel?
The water we see in surface lakes, rivers and oceans is only part of the world’s supply. Significant amounts of water lie beneath our feet, under the ground, which is how it came to be called "groundwater". Groundwater knows no boundaries, but in North Carolina it can usually be counted upon to flow to large bodies of water
Can the rest of the contaminated groundwater affect the Cape Fear River?
At this point, none of the samples taken from the river show these chemicals have contaminated its water. However, sampling continues. Groundwater can take many routes to a river, so if chemicals are detected, we will begin an aggressive plan to detect the location of the contaminated groundwater and make all necessary efforts to prevent it from reaching the Cape Fear.
How can I learn more?
Documents are on file at the DENR’s Fayetteville regional office and at DWM headquarters in Raleigh, NC. For details on making an appointment, use the "back" button on your browser and click on the "Documents" link.