Update: The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority has lifted its boil advisory for residents in northern New Hanover County. According to the authority, water from the Richardson Nano Groundwater Treatment plant is now safe to drink and cook with.
WILMINGTON — The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority has lifted its ‘do not drink’ alert for nearly 30,000 customers in Northern New Hanover County.
The initial alert came early Wednesday morning after an abundance of fluoride was found in water provided by the Richardson Nano Groundwater Treatment Plant. (A full timeline of Wednesday’s “do not drink” order can be viewed at the end of this article.)
According to a CFPUA alert, “We have lifted the ‘do not drink’ alert. However, a central area in the service area is under a precautionary boil water advisory. CFPUA crews flushed the system, continue to sample, and they are making positive progress. We will continue to work in the area to ensure water quality.”
A boil water advisory was issued as a precaution to customers located within a specific area, shown on the map above.
CFPUA issued the following instructions for residents in the boil advisory area:
“Periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increase the potential for back siphonage and the introduction of bacteria into the water system. CFPUA customers in the above-described area are asked to boil their water for one minute, allow it to cool before consumption, and store the cooled water in a clean container with a cover. Customers can also utilize another water source such as bottled water,” according to the release.
Water outages and low pressure are expected for customers and water quality testing results should be returned within 24 hours.
Below: a timeline of Wednesday’s “Do not drink” order
