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  Notice of Water System Burn Out

Beginning June 18^th and continuing until August 6^th the Greene County Water Regional Water System (GCRWS) will temporarily change the disinfectant used in the water treatment process. GCRWS will be using chlorine rather than chloramines during this six week period.

Since April 2012, GCRWS has used chloramines, a mixture of chlorine and ammonia as the disinfectant in its water treatment process. Chloramines are an effective disinfectant and also reduce the level of byproducts that are regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The State drinking water guidelines recommend that water systems using chloramines periodically switch back to free chlorine (chlorine alone) for a minimum of three weeks. This brief scheduled change in disinfectant is a standard water treatment practice to keep water mains clean and free of potentially harmful bacteria throughout the year.

During this temporary change to free chlorine, customers may notice a slight change in the taste or smell of their tap water. The mild chlorine taste and smell is normal and poses no health risk. Most customers will not need to take any precautions as the water remains safe to drink and is treated according to both state and federal standards. People and businesses that normally take special precautions to remove chloramines from tap water, such as dialysis centers, medical facilities and aquatic pet owners, should continue to take the same precautions during the temporary switch from chloramines to free chlorine.

For additional information, customers can be directed to our website, www.co.greene.nc.us or to GCRWS at (252) 747-2429.

Water Distribution

The Public Works Departments is charged with managing the Greene County Regional Water System. The water systems contains:

• Approximately 3,700 customers
• Nine (9) wells
• Three (3) 500,000 gallon elevated storage tanks.
• 312 miles of distribution lines.

Recently, the State of North Carolina adopted the Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Rules. These rules will require the Greene County Regional Water System to reduce its well withdrawals by 75% in the next fifteen years. As a result of these rules, the Greene County Regional Water System is in the process of building a joint water transmission line with the Town of Farmville. The purpose of the transmission line will be to purchase water from Greenville Utilities Commission to comply with the Central Coastal Plain Capacity use rules.