Local water agencies in Orange, Chatham, and Durham counties shared their support and excitement around new rules against “forever chemicals” in drinking water on Wednesday, after the Environmental Protection Agency announced its first national and legally enforceable limits. The federal agency held an event in Fayetteville, N.C. on Wednesday to share details on the change — a fitting spot since the community was the site of one of the major instances of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) being discovered as polluting the water in the Cape Fear River. EPA Administrator Michael Regan, who is a North Carolina native and previously led the state’s Department of Environmental Quality, announced the new rule against the substances. “Durham Water, OWASA, and Raleigh Water applaud the EPA’s action to help protect drinking water in North Carolina and around the country,” said the release. “PFAS compounds present unique challenges due to their persistence in the environment and potent...