An algae bloom in the Cape Fear River caused the 22,500 Brunswick County, NC residents to have serious taste and odor problems with their water. The taste and odor problem may be a result of treating water at the Northwest Treatment Plant with chlorine dioxide. The chlorine dioxide and dying algae may create a chemical reaction which produces the taste and odor that people are experiencing.
Though the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority pulls its water from the same source, residents on that side of the river didn’t experience the same taste and odor problems. This is because Cape Fear Public Utility treats its water with ozone instead of chlorine dioxide.
New Hanover had experienced the same problem as Brunswick County is now. When the department was looking to expand its treatment plant at that time, officials decided to spend a little more money and go with the ozone system. Since then, they’ve had no trouble with odor or taste.
Brunswick County is now looking at ozone, along with other options to prevent future taste and odor occurrences. Taste and odor control is an important application for ozone in the treatment of drinking water.