Smithfield, NC – Beginning on February 27th, the Johnston County Water Treatment Plant will temporarily stop feeding ammonia with chlorine for disinfection and start feeding chlorine only for all Johnston County water customers on the Johnston West water distribution system. The Johnston West distribution system supplies water for many county residents and businesses, which may include Wilson’s Mills, Clayton and some customers serviced by various private utilities including Aqua NC and Utilities, Inc. If you have any concerns or need additional information, please contact Johnston County Public Utilities at 919-989-5075. Your distribution system is designated on your monthly billing statement and shown in the WHITE area on the map below. State and federal regulations require that all public water systems feed chlorine only for at least three weeks each year to insure that no bacteria are present which may have adapted to the ammonia in the water. Johnston West customers that use kidney dialysis machines should be aware that the water will contain more chlorine for about five weeks and will return to a chlorine and ammonia mixture on or about April 3rd. The chlorine only water can be toxic to tropical fish. Most customers will not notice a difference in their water, but some may detect a chlorine odor and might observe a slight color change. The County will also conduct flushing of the Johnston West water distribution system during this period to speed the 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. If any related issues cannot be cleared by flushing the lines inside your home, please call 919-989-5075.
