The Town of Cary produces drinking water from Jordan Lake at a treatment plant that it owns with the Town of Apex. Treatment capacity increased to 40 million gallons per day with expansion that was completed in 2002. The plant has been in compliance with regulatory standards since opening in 1993.

The water plant is six miles from Jordan Lake, which is part of the Cape Fear River basin. The lake was created to supply water regionally, control flooding, improve flow downstream, and provide recreation.

Annual Reports

Drinking Water Quality Report [text only html]– This brochure is mailed to all water customers as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It summarizes test results and includes information on health effects. The report lists Town contacts and sources of additional information.

Water Treatment Lab Summary – This comprehensive laboratory report has test results for all parameters for finished water from the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility and distribution system.

Treatment Process

The Cary/Apex Water Treatment Plant uses a relatively new process with special concrete treatment basins called Super-Pulsator Flocculator Clarifiers for removing particles from the water. Each can treat up to 8 million gallons of water a day. These devices save money because they require less space than conventional sedimentation basins.

The basins use a vacuum chamber for pulsing action as water flows upward, becoming clearer as larger particles settle. Pulsing prevents particles from settling completely, and over time these particles form a blanket that helps filter water as it flows upward through the basins. The plant also has 10 multi-media filters that remove finer particles. Ozone is used to disinfect, remove organics, and control taste and odor. The treatment plant staff uses ammonia and chlorine for final disinfection, suspending the addition of ammonia each March.

Fluoride is added as the state and dentists recommend for a level of 1.0 part per million at the customer's tap.

The expansion included significantly increasing storage to 8 million gallons of water that can be held at the plant after treatment. The project also included replacement of chlorine gas with liquid sodium hypochlorite to increase worker and community safety by eliminating the potential of gaseous chemical releases at the facility. The expansion project and the incorporation of ozone enable the plant to meet federal requirements for improving the nation's drinking water.

Recognition

Cary has received the Directors Award of recognition from the Partnership for Safe Drinking Water, an association of water utilities and government, for going far beyond federal requirements in an effort to achieve excellence in water quality.

Resources

The Partnership for Safe Water
American Water Works Association
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Ground and Drinking Water
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Public Water Supply

Contact

For more information, contact:
Kelvin Creech, Plant Manager
(919) 362-5502
kelvin.creech@townofcary.org

Tours for elementary, middle and high school groups:
Srijana Guilford, Water Conservation Education Specialist
srijana.guilford@townofcary.org

For general information and college student tours:
Sophie Carr, Administrative Assistant
sophie.carr@townofcary.org

For water quality information:
Penny Rosser, Chemist
penny.rosser@townofcary.org