'Unfortunate setback': Damage delays start of Brunswick water treatment plant operations

Jamey Cross, Wilmington StarNews
·2 min read
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H2GO's long-awaited reverse osmosis water treatment plant was set to be operational in January, before damage to a water transmission line set things back.
H2GO's long-awaited reverse osmosis water treatment plant was set to be operational in January, before damage to a water transmission line set things back.

H2GO’s highly anticipated reverse osmosis water treatment plant was set to begin operations last month, but accidental damage to a water transmission line requires repair that has delayed the plant’s start.

While working to complete final testing at the plant, H2GO discovered a finished-water transmission line had sustained damage after “accidental impact” during construction work along U.S. 17.

The line, according to H2GO, is required to deliver reverse osmosis water from the water plant to elevated storage tanks and to the water distribution system. The repair will delay start-up operations at the plant, H2GO said.

“This is an unfortunate setback for all of us…” said H2GO Executive Director Bob Walker in a news release.

The Belville plant has been more than a decade in the making and the local water district is nearing its goal of supplying PFAS-free water to some 40,000 customers in northern Brunswick County. The facility will use reverse osmosis to remove naturally occurring and man-made contaminants from raw water retrieved from five well sites.

Read this:A look back at the years-long effort to bring cleaner water to northern Brunswick County

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In the news release, H2GO Communications Director Stephanie Blair said this damage was out of H2GO’s control.

“It is incredibly disheartening the wait will be extended a bit longer, especially when we are so close with the RO plant project schedule on track. The transmission line will be repaired, and we will place the RO water plant in operation. We remain focused on quality service and the end goal to provide our customers with clean water, free of manmade contaminants,” Blair said.

Repair efforts are currently underway, according to H2GO. Currently, the repair is expected to take a few weeks to complete. Blair said H2GO will keep customers informed if the plant’s timeline is further impacted.

Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter @jameybcross.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Start-up operations delayed at H2GO’s Brunswick reverse osmosis plant