News & Updates

Beginning Friday, March 1, 2024 Harnett Regional Water 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. The Water Plant will resume the addition of ammonia to form Chloramines for the water treatment disinfection process on Monday, April 1, 2024.
The County water system began adding ammonia to the water treatment process in August of 1993. Using ammonia in the treatment process helps the County reduce the amount of Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids by-products that are formed when water is disinfected with chlorine. This return to chlorine only disinfection is not expected to cause any significant issues with Trihalomethanes or Haloacetic Acids. Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acid levels are strictly regulated in the drinking water industry, and the County has maintained compliance with Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids since regulations were put in place.
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 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 County’s water.
Water customers affected by this change include those who pay water bills to Harnett Regional Water as well as those who pay bills to the Towns of Lillington, Angier, Coats, Linden, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Spring Lake, East Moore Water District, Moore County Public Utilities – Pinehurst, Johnson County Utilities – West Distribution System, Aqua N.C. (Woodlake), Linden Oaks or live and/or work on base at Fort Liberty. If you have any questions about this temporary change in the water treatment process, contact Harnett Regional Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Allan O’Briant by phone 910-893-7575 ext. 3238, e-mail aobriant@harnett.org or by mail at Harnett Regional Water, P. O. Box 1119, Lillington, N. C. 27546.