Brunswick County has issued a voluntary Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert effective immediately as a precaution following the identification of a leak in a Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority (LCFWSA) raw water transmission main. Water conservation alerts affect all customers of public water systems anywhere in Brunswick County.

Brunswick County’s main utility system is currently upstream of the leak and operating normally. The leak’s location is not expected to cause major impacts to water service delivery and pressure for Brunswick County water customers at this time.

Water supply is still available for water customers in Brunswick County and there are no impacts to water quality that require additional actions like boiling water. These preventative measures will help to ensure adequate water is available for essential needs across our region.

LCFWSA staff informed utility partners including Brunswick County that they had recorded water pressure and flow changes in a raw water transmission main leading from the Kings Bluff Pump Station late Wednesday evening. This pump station, which sources water from the Cape Fear River, is the primary source or raw water for utilities in Southeastern North Carolina, including CFPUA, Brunswick County, and Pender County.

Following continued flow changes, LCFWSA suspected a potential leak. The leak was identified Friday afternoon. Crews have been dispatched to evaluate plans for emergency repairs.

Customers of all public utility systems in Brunswick County are asked to take the following voluntary actions:

• Use the following recommended irrigation schedule to even out system demands:
  • Odd address numbers: Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday
  • Even address numbers: Wednesday/Friday/Sunday
  • No irrigation on Mondays
• Limit showers to five minutes—doing so can save up to 1,000 gallons per month
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save up to 4 gallons per minute
• Only run washing machines or dishwashers when full
• Use a broom, rather than a hose, to clean driveways and patios
• Postpone washing vehicles at home or use a commercial car wash, which uses recycled water
• Dispose of tissues and sanitary products in the trash rather than flushing them–this also helps protect our sewer system.

Water customers of utility systems outside Brunswick County are encouraged to contact their water provider or check their communication channels for any updates specific to their water systems.

Brunswick County and its utility partners will continue to monitor the situation over the weekend to ensure flows are adequate and determine if additional public action is required.

In the event additional action is necessary, H2GO, in coordination with Brunswick County, will issue a notification through its communications channels and to local media. Individuals can sign up for utilities email updates like this one from H2GO HERE.

Updates on this situation will be posted at brunswickcountync.gov/water-conservation-alert-11-5-21 and h2goonline.com/blog-archives.