BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – Brunswick County says the expansion of its Northwest Water Treatment Plant is expected to make expanded treatment capacity available as soon as this August.

In an update made Tuesday, Aug. 4, officials said the plant’s new low-pressure reverse osmosis system is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026.

“There are still no expected changes to the original construction cost of $167.3 million, and the County reserves the right to deduct liquidated damages from the project cost due to the contractor’s delays,” said Brunswick County officials. “There are no planned increases to any water rates due to the delays to this project.”

Crews say they have completed a new rapid-mix structure for the expanded treatment capacity, upgraded the existing pulsator clarifiers with super-pulsator technology, and added eight dual-media filters.

A 0.5-million-gallon backwash equalization tank has also been completed. The tank will provide backwash water for the additional filters and serve as a water source for the reverse osmosis system.

Construction began about five years ago and was originally scheduled for completion at the end of 2023. County commissioners approved a seventh contract extension in December 2025, setting a completion date in late August 2026. That extension was expected to cost $1.3 million.

The expansion is intended to address Brunswick County’s housing growth and add a reverse osmosis system to remove PFAS from drinking water. The county has been seeking a PFAS treatment solution since 2017, after releases from Chemours’ Fayetteville Works facility contaminated the Cape Fear River.

Brunswick County has joined other regional utilities in a lawsuit against DuPont and Chemours. The county is seeking monetary damages for the cost of installing the treatment system. The lawsuit remains ongoing.

The county said it will provide another update on the project in the coming months. More information on the project can be found here.