Beginning Thursday, March 1, 2012 Harnett County Public Utilities will temporarily change its drinking water disinfection from Chloramines ( Free Chlorine plus Ammonia) to just Free Chlorine by stopping the addition of ammonia to its water treatment disinfection process. This change is a requirement by North Carolina Public Water Supply Section, which governs the operation of the County’s water system. The county will resume adding ammonia to the water treatment disinfection process on Monday, April 2, 2012.
The County began adding ammonia to the water treatment process August of 1993. Using ammonia in the treatment process helps the county reduce the amount of Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids, by-product formed when water is disinfected with chlorine. This little over four week return to chlorine only disinfection is not expected to cause any significant increase in Trihalomethanes or Haloacetic Acids. Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids levels are strictly regulated in the drinking water industry, and the County has maintained compliance with all limits on Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids since regulations were put in place in .
Some users of water may be affected by the temporary change in the treatment process. Water customers should be aware that residual traces of ammonia and chlorine must be removed from the water prior to its use in fish aquariums and ponds, kidney dialysis and some commercial manufacturing of food and beverage.
The County along with the Town of Angier also conducts flushing of the water distribution system during this period to hasten the change of chloramines to chlorine residual disinfectant. The system flushing may result in some minor discoloration of the water.
If you have any questions about this change in the water treatment contact Town of Angier by phone 919-639-2071.
Jimmy Cook
Director of Public Utilities
Town of Angier
919-639-2071
919-639-6130
