Smithfield, NC – The following notice is for all Johnston County water customers on the JOHNSTON WEST water distribution system which is designated on your billing statement each month. Effective February 27th, the Johnston County Water Treatment Plant will temporarily stop feeding ammonia with chlorine for disinfection and start feeding chlorine only for this portion of the county’s public water system as shown on the map below. State and federal regulations require that all public water systems feed chlorine for at least three weeks each year to insure that no bacteria are present which may have adapted to the ammonia in the water. Customers who use kidney dialysis machines should be aware that the water will contain more chlorine for about six weeks and then will return to a chlorine and ammonia mixture on or about April 2nd. The chlorine only water can be toxic to tropical fish. Most customers will not notice any difference in their water, but some may detect a chlorine odor and might observe a slight color change. If the discoloration cannot be cleared by flushing the lines inside your home, please call 919-989-5075. The County will also conduct flushing of the Johnston West water distribution system during this period to speed removal of chloramines from the system. The flushing process may result in some minor and temporary discoloration of water that does not affect water quality. The Johnston West system supplies water to many county residents and businesses including those in Four Oaks, Wilson’s Mills and Clayton and some customers serviced by various private utilities including Aqua NC and Carolina Water Service. Customers within Benson city limits should not be affected. The Town of Smithfield will be disinfecting with chlorine only over the same period. If you have concerns or need additional information, please contact Public Utilities at (919) 989-5075.
