Mapping the Haw River

The Haw River Assembly is dedicated to the goal of environmental justice and equality for everyone living in the watershed. Our efforts are guided by our mission statement, our strategic plan, and the work of our Environmental Justice, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Over the years we have worked with communities fighting disproportionate burdens of pollution based on demographic factors such as race and income. We support efforts by communities fighting proposals that would bring new degradation to water and air quality including landfills, mining, fracking, coal ash, and rights to clean water, wastewater treatment, and access to public natural areas.

The Haw River Assembly has created a community mapping tool to show where pollution is located and specific environmental justice problems within the watershed. The map can be seen below; it contains data about potential and existing sources of pollution overlaid with demographic data to show the primary communities that are being affected by pollutants in certain areas, so that we will be able to better provide support to these communities in tackling these issues. Additionally, we have included spotlights of community leaders and groups working on environmental justice within the watershed. 

We are grateful to our interns, Lucy Grey (UNC-CH) and Quinn Beckham (Duke University), for their work on this StoryMap project.

Maps in this section are meant to inform you of some of the risks within the Haw River Watershed.  For more information about each type of risk keep reading throughout the story map.

Below is a map of the Haw River Watershed and some of the risks we were able to identify. You can type in your address in the top left search bar, and click on the legend icon in the bottom left to identify potential pollutant sources or industrial sites. By clicking on a site you can view relevant information such as points of contact and when the issue occurred when available. Symbols are organized by hazard type: hazardous waste (diamonds), Animal Operations (barns), Solid Waste (star), and other possible contaminants (triangle).

Using the map above, each pollutant source was ranked on a scale of 1-5 for risk level, with 5 being the highest risk. The risk levels are dependent on drinking water source, for example, landfills have a risk factor of 1 if you are not on well water and a 3 if you are receiving public drinking water.*  All the hazard risk sources were added together to get a total risk score. This is shown in the map below. You can type in your address in the top left search bar, and use the legend in the bottom left to identify a potential hazard risk level. This is just an estimate based on available data.

*This dataset has limitations such as the map used for drinking water source only included public drinking water utilities:   https://nconemap.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=58548b90bdfd4148829103ac7f4db9ce 

Although North Carolina’s per capita waste generation is much lower than the national average, there are still over 1000 landfills (both open and closed) in the state. Landfill construction and maintenance comes with a host of problems for nearby communities, and they are predominantly located in low-income communities and communities of color. Although the majority of sites are lined, dangerous chemicals and contaminants are still very likely to leach into the groundwater and soil. Landfill sites experience significant increases in traffic, which contributes to noise pollution and the rotting waste produces horrible odors as well as potent greenhouse gas. The waste also attracts animals such as rats and buzzards that are known to spread infectious diseases.

Incinerators are facilities that burn the solid wastes left from wastewater treatment facilities. Wastewater treatment plants process the solid waste, which is typically land applied as biosolids or sludge, or incinerated. The incineration process involves many scrubbers, however, incinerators emit toxins and pollutants that harm local air quality. Those air particles also dissipate into the soil, surface water, and groundwater. These facilities are often located in areas of low wealth or majority minority populations.

Construction and demolition landfills are a type of landfill that accepts waste from construction projects. This waste often includes carpets, insulation, and other materials that are laden with toxins, notably PFAS and 1,4-dioxane. These landfills are not required to be lined. As the landfill accumulates rainwater, the leachate seeps into the soil and into the groundwater. 

Pre-regulatory landfills were established before the federal government set regulations on what materials went into landfills and before landfills were required to be lined. These landfills are still being discovered, so the data is limited. A pre-regulatory landfill is defined as any land area, whether publicly or privately owned, on which municipal solid waste disposal occurred prior to January 1, 1983, but not thereafter, and does not include any landfill used primarily for the disposal of industrial solid waste.

Land application of biosolids involves the spreading of the solids from wastewater treatment plants on to various sites including agricultural lands, forests, mine reclamation sites, and other disturbed lands, parks, and golf courses. Biosolids are often considered free fertilizer for farmers, but depending on the source of these solids, they can be laden with PFAS and 1,4-dioxane and other toxins not removed in the wastewater treatment process. 

Similar to biosolids, permitted septage sites are locations that accept solid waste from wastewater systems. These sites have the potential for groundwater contamination from heavy metals and industrial toxins.

Animal feeding operations are the technical term for industrial animal agriculture. These permitted operations include swine, cattle, and a select few poultry operations. These facilities are permitted with one general permit for all facilities, rather than individual permits that would have conditions specific to the region or watersheds. 

Swine lagoons are extremely prevalent in rural and minority communities, disproportionately impacting the health and well-being of these communities. North Carolina is currently the No. 2 hog production state in the country, only trailing after Iowa. According to a 2016 analysis by the Environmental Working Group and Waterkeeper Alliance, NC has 3,300 swine lagoons which have generated 10 billion gallons of wet livestock waste. However, this is less of an issue in the Haw River Watershed.

Not only do swine lagoons cause a terrible smell "reminiscent of rotten eggs and ammonia" but they also contribute to health problems of those living nearby. According to a study by Steve Wing, an associate professor at UNC Chapel Hill, people who live close to swine lagoons are more likely to have symptoms of asthma and elevated blood pressure. Swine lagoons are filled with dangerous bacteria that, when released into the surrounding waterways during flooding, can severely impact the ecosystem, destroy crops, and cause sickness in humans and animals.

In the 2021 NC Legislative Session, the NC Farm Act 2021 was passed to a section that would require the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to issue a one-size-fits-all general permit for directed biogas projects at large-scale industrial hog facilities. S 605 (Section 11) would allow facilities to install new technologies to generate biogas (for sale to Dominion Energy) without adopting stronger pollution controls or addressing existing pollution concerns.

There is no dispute that the existing waste management system via lagoons and spray fields harms our water, air, and health. The biogas plans proposed in North Carolina do not fix these waste management issues and in some ways may make the problem much worse. We stand with local community members who have been harmed for decades and will continue to advocate for truly beneficial reform.

We want to support North Carolina farmers, but not at the expense of our environment and communities. 

For more information on biogas, check out this great fact sheet.

 http://soundrivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BIOGAS-FACT-SHEET.pdf 

Citations:  https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/hog-farm-lawsuit-south/ ,  https://www.npr.org/2018/09/22/650698240/hurricane-s-aftermath-floods-hog-lagoons-in-north-carolina 

Poultry operations, which cause excessive nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, contribute to contamination of groundwater, the creation of algal blooms, and negative health effects. Poultry operations are often built in minority and low-income communities and can negatively impact the property values of these communities due to the terrible odor pollution emitted.

Coal ash structural fill is fly ash placed in construction projects and compacted as a base material. Fly ash (or coal ash) is produced primarily from the burning of coal in coal-fired power plants and other industries. It is a sandy to very fine, powdery material composed mostly of silica made from the burning of coal in a boiler. This fill is easily degraded and can contaminate the air, groundwater, and surface water for neighboring or downstream communities.  *There are two coal ash sites documented in the watershed one is in Chapel Hill off of Bolin Creek greenway and the other is at the Cape Fear Power Station in Moncure and is owned by Duke Energy.

These sites include historical and any recent accidental releases of hazardous substances and, where present in or threatening groundwater, other contaminants. Excluded are discharges associated with DEQ permits, hazardous waste dumping, agricultural operations, federal remediation sites, petroleum releases and sites undergoing remediation by the State's Drycleaning Solvent Cleanup Act (DSCA) Program. The Branch oversees remedial actions, conducts any necessary enforcement at sites deemed to be the highest priority and conducts the work itself at orphaned sites when state resources are available for such.

A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and both improves and protects the environment.

The Dry-cleaning Solvent Cleanup Act of 1997 (DSCA) and its amendments established a fund to assess and cleanup dry-cleaning solvent contamination at dry-cleaning and wholesale distribution facilities and authorized the program to develop and enforce rules to prevent dry-cleaning solvent releases at operating facilities. The DSCA program is wholly funded by receipts from taxes on dry-cleaning sales and dry-cleaning solvents.

Underground storage tank incidents occur when a holding tank for dangerous materials leaks underground. This regularly occurs near gas stations or other locations where petroleum is stored. These incidents can often go unnoticed or undetected without inspections, which contaminates the soil, groundwater, and nearby surface waters. 

Superfund sites are identified as severely polluted areas that require a long-term response in order to clean up all the hazardous material. As shown in the map on the below, the vast majority of Superfund sites located in the Haw watershed are located in communities that are greater than 30% minority, showing that the sites are disproportionately located in areas with larger minority communities than the state average.

Another industry that causes negative environmental and health effects is mining. Also often located in rural areas, mining operations can result in contaminated water that poses a danger to humans and animals. In 2018, a mineral processing plant released hundreds of gallons of hydrofluoric acid into the North Toe River, which runs through Spruce Pine, with contaminated the water and caused a fish kill. River activities such as paddling, rafting, and fishing are very important for the tourism economy of communities such as the North Toe River, and illegal mining discharges such as these can significantly impact the local economy.

In the Haw River watershed, extraction industries also include projects like rock quarries and asphalt production. These industries use millions of gallons of groundwater in the extraction and cleaning process. These withdrawals can significantly threaten the water quantity and quality of the surrounding communities who rely on groundwater. These industries also use blasting to break apart the rocky ground, which can cause property damage and destruction to neighbors. This has been the case in Snow Camp, North Carolina. Communities here have been fighting a proposed gravel mine since 2019.

Citations:  https://wlos.com/news/local/abandoned-mines-pose-risks-but-nc-does-little-to-secure-sites ,  https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2019/04/30/north-toe-river-spruce-pine-wastewater-pollution-year-later-nc-deq-permits-review/3625511002/ 

Industrial facilities and wastewater facilities must discharge treated wastewater somehow. This permit allows them to discharge treated wastewater into surface waters. The wastewater is treated to specifications determined by the permit, and usually must be limited for bacteria, nutrients, heavy metals, and other contaminants. PFAS and 1,4 - dioxane are not yet required to be limited in these permits. 

Stormwater is the term for accumulation of rainfall. This is a completely natural and necessary part of the water cycle. However, our cities have historically been designed to rush stormwater away and into streams as quickly as possible, and this typically results in flooding of low lying areas. Because these low lying areas tend to be riskier development projects, these areas generally have lower income residents, who may not have the security and safety net in place if their homes are flooded. Stormwater can also contain pollutants such as oil from parking lots. Stormwater permits help ensure that surface waters are being protected from stormwater runoff and pollutants. These permits require the installation of mechanisms to help remove pollutant and slow down stormwater.

These sites are industrial facilities that have considerable air emissions. This permit requires limiting particulate matter and several specific toxins, but does not include monitoring or limits for PFAS yet. These permits are renewed on a 5 year basis. Violations occur when the treatment stacks or scrubbers are bypassed, as in the case with Stericycle, the medical waste incineration facility in Haw River, which released unchecked amount of toxic waste into the air for hours, polluting neighboring communities. 

Low lying areas have historically had lower property values because of the possibility of flooding. Flooding can impact health and wellness in several ways. Cleaning up after a flood can be expensive and time intensive. If water is not removed from a home quickly and adequately mold can set in which can make you sick. Flood water can also transport things like coal ash, animal waste, and other hazardous materials. Lastly, vast amounts of moving water can be dangerous leading to injuries or even drowning.

The Mountain Valley mainline pipeline is a project proposed to stretch 303 miles from West Virginia to Virginia and has been met with significant legal challenges, delays, and environmental violations. Due to the persistence of impacted communities, this project may never see completion. 

The Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate extension would have extend this proposed pipeline an additional 75 miles from Virginia to North Carolina, through the Dan and Haw River watersheds. This expansion would have caused the pipeline to cross 207 streams and 3 ponds.

Over the past few years, Haw River Assembly has been working to make people aware of the consequences of the project and to give members of communities alongside the route a voice. Alamance County unanimously signed a resolution to oppose the project, as did several towns along the route. The Pipeline has hit several roadblocks, particularly in the summer of 2020 when the NC DEQ denied the 401 permit, which is the necessary permit to cross streams. The permit was denied outright, meaning there were no conditions under which MVP Southgate could make corrections and resubmit. NCDEQ's denial letter focused predominantly on the failures of the MVP mainline. This decision was challenged by MVP Southgate, and a federal court ruled that NCDEQ had the authority to deny the project. Southern Environmental Law Center has intervened in the case on behalf of Haw River Assembly to defend NC DEQ’s decision to deny this critical permit.

“Division staff have determined the Southgate project’s sole utility and purpose is tied to and wholly relies on the completion of the entire Mainline project,” DEQ’s letter reads. “The uncertainty of the MVP Mainline Project’s completion presents a critical risk to the achievability of the fundamental purpose of MVP Southgate.”

As of December 2023, the MPV Southgate extension has been revised so that it will no longer go through Alamance County. MPV will likely no longer be a threat to the Haw River Watershed. However, this pipeline is not needed. We will continue to work with our coalition to stop this unnecessary pipeline from causing harm to communities along the new proposed route. For example, we have signed on to a petition in federal court to challenge regulators’ approval MPV Southgate because the scope has changed drastically and the current approval should no longer apply.

Citations:  https://www.ecowatch.com/north-carolina-mountain-valley-pipeline-permit-2646956589.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1  

 https://cardinalnews.org/2024/04/23/environmental-groups-challenge-mvp-southgate-in-federal-court/ 

This building was home to Western Electric in the 1950s and 1960s. This plant did not just produce electricity, however. This facility was home to the Tarheel Army Missile Plant, where top-secret research was done on behalf of the military. The Nike Ajax Missile, filled with hazardous chemicals, was developed here. Those chemicals seeped and spilled into storm drains and groundwater. 

The air quality within the building could be extremely contaminated. According to state records, cyanide, caustics, acids, radioactive materials, asbestos, lead, chromium, PCBs, gasoline, diesel fuel, and other hazardous solvents have contaminated the soil, air, and groundwater at the plant. These contaminants were also detected in the stream adjacent to the property. That stream feeds into the Haw River, which is a drinking water source for downstream communities in Pittsboro, Apex, Cary, Fayetteville, and Wilmington. The contamination of the soil and groundwater could potentially lead to vapor intrusion, where contaminated vapors pass through cracks in basements and foundations to contaminate the air inside the home. Additionally, the building is in structural disrepair. The open pits are now filled with water, which has also been contaminated by these toxins. The building is filled with asbestos, a cancer causing toxin that contaminates the air. Though the fencing is not effective in keeping people out of this building, it is critical that this building is not entered without protective gear due to the danger of exposure to these toxins. 

To read more about this issue check out Lisa Sorg's articles:  https://ncnewsline.com/2021/09/08/clear-and-present-danger-burlington-missile-plant-english/ 

Similarly to other mining operations, asphalt production poses significant threats to surrounding communities by degrading the quality and quantity of groundwater they depend on. Asphalt plants can potentially contaminate the surrounding communities by leaching heavy metals into groundwater and adding high levels of particulate matter to the air. Asphalt production also produces air emissions and fumes that are harmful to human health. These fumes can also be deposited on surface water and contaminate downstream drinking water. This particular plant is proposed in an environmental justice community, meaning that the population is majority minority. These communities are already exposed to high levels of pollutants from other industrial facilities in the area. This community also has a higher level of asthma and other health issues related to air particulates. 

Though many of our industrial contaminant sources in the Haw watershed have been identified, we are still discovering and investigating other potential sources, including landfills, superfund sites, and other industrial facilities. Contaminants of current concern include the class of chemicals called PFAS and a solvent named 1,4 Dioxane.

In 1994, Omega and Brenda Wilson co-founded the West End Revitalization Association (WERA) in Mebane, NC in response to decades of being denied access to basic infrastructure including but not limited to paved roads, sidewalks, sewage treatment, and safe drinking water. You can read more about their work at their website, linked below:

Below is an excerpt from an interview we had with Mr. Wilson. A blog post based on our interview is available on our website:

“What we were addressing, we did not call it Environmental Justice. We took the slogan of ‘seeking the right to basic amenities’... which is much more comprehensive.”

As a member of many organizations, Nicole Gaines is incredibly dedicated to serving her community. Ms. Gaines, who is based in Greensboro, is a board member of the Haw River Assembly, and a Member-at-Large on the Greensboro Sustainability Council. In addition, she is part of the NCCJ Collective Leadership Team and the NC Sierra Club. Ms. Gaines’s current projects include fighting an urban loop highway extension that is proposed to go right by her neighborhood.

Below is an excerpt from an interview we had with Ms. Gaines. A blog post based on our interview is available on our website:

"I’ve done research and talked with other researchers when we go into communities and decide to ask questions and ask people about things to do and participate in. Once that research is done we all leave - it is being recognized now that that causes more harm than anything… When we look at community organizing, you are organizing and you are beginning with the people who are most affected. You are beginning with the people who live in those communities and they are living the harm, and you help them or they help you figure out what’s best for us."

Crystal Cavalier Keck, from Mebane, NC, is a member of the Occoneechee Band of the Saponi Nation and is the founder of the Missing Murdered Indigenous Coalition of North Carolina (MMIWNC). MMIWNC is a non-profit that is dedicated to pooling resources and raising awareness about the high number of Indigenous women and girls who go missing. She also sits on the NAACP Environmental Justice Board and on the board of the Haw River Assembly, and co-founded a business, Seven Directions of Service, with her husband to promote community service opportunities in Native communities.

Below is an excerpt from an interview we had with Ms. Cavalier Keck. A blog post about our interview is available on our website:



"As for the intersection of these social justice issues with pipelines, she says, “It’s just a really bad situation. Most of these pipelines are going through marginalized communities… It’s just like a cycle of trauma that is affecting these people. They grow up with this cycle and it’s really hard to break unless someone is actually going in there and working with the community, instilling community values, trying to change things."

Brenda Hines speaks very highly of community organization Down Home North Carolina, which is a group that is working to build multiracial power for working families across North Carolina, and which focuses on mobilizing small towns and rural communities. Ms. Hines has been a member since Down Home began in 2017, and one of her current goals is making people aware about the effects of the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate project. The pipeline is proposed to cut through several central NC counties, including Alamance, which is where Down Home began.

Down Home NC's website is linked below:

Below is an excerpt from an interview we had with Ms. Hines. A blog post about our interview is available on our website:

"It takes a long time to develop relationships, and that’s what people have to be rooted in - the relationship building, not just the issue of the moment… Everybody is giving up something. Don’t be shortsighted because it’s a Black life or a Brown life in the forefront, but everybody is affected by it no matter what your racial background may be."