Brunswick County’s reverse osmosis expansion is designed to remove PFAS and other contaminants across most of its service area.
Bolivia, NC — Brunswick County Public Utilities says most households in its service area will receive water treated through the upgraded low‑pressure reverse osmosis system now being installed at the Northwest Water Treatment Plant. Homes billed by Brunswick County Utility Billing, Bald Head Island, Holden Beach, Oak Island, or Ocean Isle Beach are among those set to benefit once the system becomes fully operational.
Several communities, including Southport, St. James, Oak Island, and Caswell Beach, receive blended water from both the Northwest Plant and the Highway 211 Water Treatment Plant. St. James primarily relies on groundwater from Highway 211 but shifts to blended supply during peak demand or maintenance periods. Bald Head Island operates its own treatment plant but still receives supplemental water from Highway 211 or blended water from both county facilities. All other customers mapped within the county’s service area receive water solely from the Northwest Plant.
The county is completing the final phase of a long‑planned expansion at the Northwest Water Treatment Plant. This phase installs an advanced low‑pressure reverse osmosis system designed to remove both regulated and unregulated contaminants, including PFAS compounds such as GenX and 1,4‑dioxane. The upgrade doubles the plant’s conventional treatment capacity from 24 to 48 million gallons per day and provides at least 36 million gallons per day of reverse osmosis treatment.
Earlier phases of the project were completed in 2010 and 2015. After PFAS contamination was discovered in the Cape Fear River in 2017, Brunswick County re‑evaluated the final phase and hired engineering firm CDM Smith to test advanced treatment options. Pilot testing in 2018 showed that low‑pressure reverse osmosis reduced most PFAS compounds to undetectable levels.
Financing for the expansion was approved by the Local Government Commission in May 2020, and the county issued $167.3 million in revenue bonds the following month. Of that amount, $158.7 million funds the expansion and reverse osmosis system, while $8.6 million covers the concentrate discharge pipeline that carries treated discharge to the Cape Fear River. The pipeline was completed at a reduced cost of $6.24 million. Commissioners also approved a $122.6 million construction contract for the plant expansion and reverse osmosis upgrades.
Brunswick County is not receiving financial support from Chemours or DuPont for the treatment system. In 2017, the county joined other regional utilities in suing both companies over PFAS contamination, seeking monetary damages to offset the millions being spent on new treatment technology. The lawsuit remains active, and no settlement or judgment has been issued. County officials say any proceeds would be used for the benefit of all customer classes, but how those funds might be allocated has not yet been determined.
Once fully operational, the upgraded Northwest Water Treatment Plant will provide advanced PFAS removal for most Brunswick County Public Utilities customers and its municipal partners.
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