Every fall, Brunswick County Public Utilities changes the disinfectant in its water for a few weeks. For most of the year it uses chloramine (chlorine combined with ammonia). During its annual hydrant flushing it uses free chlorine instead. In 2026 that runs from October 1, 2026 through November. The county has not announced the exact date it switches back; we will update this page when it does.
Why the county does it
The county flushes its water mains by opening fire hydrants, which cleans out sediment across more than 1,440 miles of water lines and 8,161 hydrants. It says free chlorine "is more effective than combined chlorine at reacting with sediments suspended during flushing," and that the switch is required by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. Source: Brunswick County notice, Aug 31, 2026.
Dates
The change takes 7 to 10 days to reach your tap, depending on where you are in the system. Coming back, the county said in 2025 it can take two to three weeks.
| Year | Free chlorine from | Back to chloramine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | October 1 | not announced yet (the county says "through November 2026") | Brunswick County notice, Aug 31, 2026 |
| 2025 | October 7 | November 8 | Brunswick County notice, Sept 9, 2025 · Brunswick County switch-back notice, Nov 7, 2025 |
| 2024 | October 26 | November 25 | Brunswick County notice, Sept 25, 2024 · Brunswick County switch-back notice, Nov 22, 2024 |
Who is affected
Brunswick County Public Utilities customers, and, in the county's words, "the towns, cities, and other utilities that purchase water from Brunswick County." The county lists Bald Head Island, Holden Beach, Oak Island and Ocean Isle Beach as wholesale customers (Brunswick County: Annual Reports / Facilities Information). Bald Head Island says it will follow the week of October 12 (Village of Bald Head Island update, Sept 3, 2026). Not sure who supplies your water? It is the name on your water bill.
Private wells are not affected.
What you may notice
- A stronger chlorine taste or smell. The county suggests keeping an open container of drinking water in the fridge so the chlorine fades, and changing that water weekly.
- Discolored water or sediment while hydrants near you are flushed. The county says this is "not harmful" and temporary. In its 2025 notice it said the water "is safe to use."
Fish, ponds and dialysis
- Aquariums and ponds: test the water for chlorine before adding it to a tank or pond. Pet stores sell conditioners that remove free chlorine or chloramine; check the label covers both.
- Kidney dialysis: the county says dialysis clinics and people on home dialysis "should also be aware of this change." If you dialyze at home, check with your dialysis provider.
Will a filter handle it?
Standard activated carbon is good at reducing free chlorine, which is why many people notice little difference at a filtered tap. Chloramine is harder to remove and generally needs catalytic carbon and more contact time. Either way, the fall switch is when a tired filter shows up: if your filtered water suddenly tastes of chlorine, the cartridge may be due. For what else is in your water, our free in-home test checks chlorine, hardness and more at your own tap.
Where Brunswick County water comes from
About 80% comes from the Cape Fear River above Lock and Dam #1 and about 20% from Castle Hayne aquifer wells along Highway 211 (Brunswick County 2025 water quality report (revised Aug 2026)). The county's new reverse osmosis treatment, built to lower PFAS, is expected to be operational by the end of 2026; it is not running yet (Brunswick County reverse osmosis update, Aug 4, 2026).
Who to call
Questions about your water service: Brunswick County Public Utilities at 910.253.2657, 910.371.3490, 910.454.0512, or [email protected], or your own town's water department if you buy from a town. Questions about what is in the water at your tap: call us at (843) 742-1196 for a free in-home test.
Sources
- Brunswick County notice, Aug 31, 2026
- Brunswick County notice, Sept 9, 2025
- Brunswick County switch-back notice, Nov 7, 2025
- Brunswick County notice, Sept 25, 2024
- Brunswick County switch-back notice, Nov 22, 2024
- Brunswick County: Annual Reports / Facilities Information
- Village of Bald Head Island update, Sept 3, 2026
- Brunswick County 2025 water quality report (revised Aug 2026)
- Brunswick County reverse osmosis update, Aug 4, 2026
Frequently asked questions
When does Brunswick County switch to chlorine in 2026?
Brunswick County uses free chlorine instead of chloramine from October 1, 2026 through November 2026. The exact switch-back date had not been announced. The change takes 7 to 10 days to reach your tap.
Why does my Brunswick County tap water taste like chlorine in October?
During the annual hydrant flushing the county uses free chlorine, which many people can taste and smell more than chloramine. Keeping an open container of water in the fridge lets the chlorine fade.
Is Brunswick County water safe during the chlorine switch?
The county describes the switch as routine maintenance required by the NC Department of Environmental Quality. It says discoloration from flushing is not harmful and temporary, and its 2025 notice said the water is safe to use. Dialysis patients and fish owners need to take the steps the county describes.
Do I need to do anything for my aquarium or pond?
Yes. Test the water for chlorine before adding it, and use a conditioner that removes both free chlorine and chloramine, since the county switches back after the flushing season.