Onslow County, North Carolina: drinking water report. Onslow County – Jacksonville, NC – serves about 200,000 residents, with the population heavily…
Onslow County – Jacksonville, NC – serves about 200,000 residents, with the population heavily influenced by Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base. The county draws from groundwater and the New River. Camp Lejeune's water contamination history is one of the most well-known military environmental disasters in US history.
Camp Lejeune's water was contaminated with volatile organic compounds – trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, and benzene – from the 1950s through 1985. An estimated 1 million Marines and family members were exposed. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 opened the door for victims to file claims. While that contamination has been addressed, PFAS from AFFF firefighting foam use is the newer concern.
According to NC DEQ monitoring and UCMR5 data, PFAS has been detected in both on-base and off-base water systems. The Department of Defense is conducting ongoing PFAS investigation at Camp Lejeune, with remediation expected to take years.
Onslow County's military contamination history makes water quality monitoring essential, particularly near Camp Lejeune.
Check your water for current data. Reverse osmosis provides the strongest household PFAS protection. Our water filter guide covers certified systems. Pull your detailed report, and visit our North Carolina page for statewide data.