February 22, 2012

CARY, NC – In accordance with state and federal regulations, the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility will temporarily stop adding ammonia to its water treatment disinfection process beginning Thursday, March 1, 2012. Customers who use water for kidney dialysis machines, fish aquariums or other chlorine sensitive uses should be aware that water may contain chlorine, ammonia, or a mixture of the two at the beginning and end of March. This month-long, annual process is required of municipal water systems and is being conducted in conjunction with other communities in the area. The water plant will resume adding ammonia to the water treatment process on Sunday, April 1, 2012. The Cary/Apex plant provides treated water to Cary, Apex, Morrisville, the Raleigh-Durham International Airport and the Wake County portion of Research Triangle Park.

To help keep drinking water safe, the Town uses chlorine and ammonia to reduce trihalomethanes, a byproduct formed when water is disinfected with chlorine alone. The State of North Carolina requires all water systems with the chlorine/ammonia process to cleanse their systems annually by switching to free chlorine and flushing the systems.

“A few residents may notice an increase in chlorine odor, and in some cases, water may be slightly discolored, but most will not notice a difference in their water during March,” said Jamie Revels, Cary’s Utilities Director. Revels pointed out that any minor changes are temporary and a normal part of the annual process.

Customers are encouraged to check their water before washing white clothes. If the water appears discolored, try flushing all house faucets for a few minutes. Customers who have questions or who have water that fails to clear should call the Town of Cary Public Works & Utilities Department at (919) 469-4090.  For more about Cary’s award-winning water, see the Water section of www.townofcary.org.

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PRIMARY CONTACTS:  
Jamie Revels, Utilities Division Director, (919) 469-4303
Deanna Boone, Deputy Public Information Officer, (919) 462-3908
Susan Moran, Public Information Director, (919) 460-4951

RELATED LINKS:
Annual Water Disinfection Process

Town of Cary Water