Beginning Wednesday, March 1, PWC will temporarily stop adding ammonia to its water treatment disinfection process. 

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources requires all water systems that add ammonia to their drinking water to discontinue its use for a one-month period annually.   

During March, fire hydrants on the PWC water distribution system will be opened frequently to flush the water distribution system that is made up of over 1,200 miles of water mains. As a result of the change, some customers may experience discolored water as a result of the system flushing and chlorine may be more noticeable.

During this time, traces of ammonia could remain in the water. PWC recommends that water customers who pre-treat should continue to follow procedures to remove chloramines during the changeover. PWC will resume adding ammonia to the water treatment disinfection process on Saturday, April 1.

PWC water treatment plants operate 24 hours a day, all year long and treat over eight billion gallons of drinking water a year for customers in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Around the clock, PWC treats water from the Cape Fear River using a disinfection treatment method that uses both ammonia and chlorine to provide safe drinking water to local homes and businesses. The water goes through a series of treatment processes to ensure its safety before being pumped into the systems and delivered to customers.

PWC was the first utility in North Carolina to be recognized with the Partnership for Safe Drinking Water’s Director’s Award for outstanding quality drinking water treatment. For over 20 years, PWC has maintained the award’s high standards and is 100 percent compliant for all Federal EPA drinking water standards.

Additional information about the water treatment process can be found at https://www.faypwc.com/water-treatment/