PWC to Change Water Treatment Process in March, 2003

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December 5

PWC will modify its disinfection process from chlorine, to chloramines, in March of 2003.

Chloramination involves the addition of ammonia to chlorinated water. This treatment process is being modified to reduce disinfection by-products, such as Trihalomethane and Trihaloacetic acid. This change in our process will allow PWC to comply with drinking water standards that the United States Environmental Protection Agency recently made more stringent. Some of the utilities in our area that currently use chloramines as their disinfection method include the Cities of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill as well as Fort Bragg and Harnett County.

While this change in the disinfection process of your drinking water supply will reduce formation of disinfection by-products, customers should be aware that this modification will require that individuals on kidney dialysis machines implement certain changes to their procedures. Additionally, owners of tropical fish or other aquatic life will need to take certain precautions to ensure the health of their fish.

KIDNEY DIALYSIS
· If you are a home user of a kidney dialysis machine, you should contact your dialysis center and complete necessary modifications of your dialysis machine before February 2003, so that it can handle chloramine residuals.

· The Chloramine residual is toxic to the dialysis user if not removed properly.

· Monitoring for chloramine compounds in the water that has been pretreated for dialysis should also be performed more frequently, so check with your dialysis center as to how often they will need to see you.

TROPICAL FISH
· If you have tropical fish or aquatic animals, you should contact your local tropical fish store and take appropriate actions prior to February 2003, to get information on methods for properly preparing the water for your fish tanks.

· The Chloramines are toxic to fish and aquatic animals if not properly treated

· Test the water for combined chlorine-chloramine and ammonia residuals to insure that you have properly treated the water before adding it to your fish tank.

Prior to the switch to chloramines in March, PWC will announce the changeover date through the local news media approximately one week before the change. If you need additional information regarding this disinfection modification please call the Public Works Commission at 910-483-1382.

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