BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. -- There’s some new hope when it comes to eliminating GenX from drinking water.

• Reverse osmosis plant would cost $99 million
• Process filters water and removes toxins
• Construction begins June 2019

Brunswick County commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to move forward with building a $99 million reverse osmosis plant. Officials said recent tests at a reverse osmosis pilot plant in Northwest show the treatment can greatly reduce the amount of GenX as well as other toxins that are in the water. The process takes water and filters it through a series of membranes that removes toxins.

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“We are looking at I believe 45 to 50 different PFA’s and all but one was non-detect. Meaning with the best technology for analyzing water, you cannot detect any after the reverse osmosis treatment,” said John Nicols, Brunswick Co. Utilities. 

Construction on the new plant is expected to begin summer 2019.