Originally posted on October 14, 2016

Attention Town of Clayton water customers in Riverwood, Riverwood Havens and Riverwood Ranch: Tests on the water samples taken in your neighborhoods have come back and the boil water advisory has been lifted for your area. You no longer need to boil water before consuming. We appreciate your patience as we worked to ensure your water was safe to drink!

You may still have air in your lines, that air can cause cloudiness in the water. So you may want to flush your faucets. Beginning with the faucet that’s highest up in your home, turn on the COLD water tap and run the water until you feel a change in temperature (as in..the water gets noticeably colder). This may take several minutes. Do this for each of the faucets in your home, again, moving from the highest floor to the lowest floor.

Does your water have a smell?  The smell is probably chlorine. Johnston County treats the Johnston East water system, which serves Riverwood, with chlorine to disinfect the pipes.

What about my water filter?  Read the owner’s manual for directions to clean appliances such as water softeners and filter units.

How about ice?  Since water dispensers and ice makers are connected to your water line, you need to flush and clean them.  Follow the directions in the owner’s manual or: Change the filter cartridges, throw out existing ice, flush the water dispenser for 3 to 5 minute, run the ice maker for 1 hour, throw out all that ice and then wash and sanitize bin areas.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call Stacy Beard, Public Information Officer for the Town of Clayton at 919-358-0348 or email info@TownofClatyonNC.org.

NO OTHER Town of Clayton water customers are under or have been under a boil water advisory, including neighborhoods along Glen Laurel Rd inside the Town limits.

We’re all getting our water from Johnston County Utilities – but they have two systems in the county. As this map shows, the majority of  the Town of Clayton town limit served by the West Johnston County System (in white on the map to the left). Riverwood and the rest of the county are on the East Johnston County Water System (the area in beige).

If you are confused about whether you are still under a boil water advisory…the best thing to do to is call the town or company who sends you a water bill.

• If you pay your water bill to Johnston County Utilities, you need to call Johnston County Utilities at  919-989-5075 or go to its website.  Johnston County Utilities is notifying its direct customers that they have lifted the boil water advisory, except for about 111 customers who should have received a notice on their door.
• If you pay your water bill to Aqua, call Aqua at 877.987.2782 or go to its website http://www.aquaamerica.com/ – That company has apparently lifted the boil water advisory for its customers in the Flowers Plantation area and elsewhere.
• If you pay your water bill to another other Johnston County town – call that town directly.
• If you don’t get a water bill because your landlord takes care of the water – you need to call their landlord.
• If you have private well-water for a drinking source, have experienced flooding and suspect the well may be contaminated, you should continue to boil water before consumption.  Contact Johnston County Environmental Health for guidance and water storage procedures at 919-989-5180. Bacteriological water sample fees are being waived for the flooded well inspections until the state of emergency is lifted.  Call ASAP. Go to this website for more info on well water safety – http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/private-drinking-wells.html

Even though all the towns and Aqua buy water from Johnston County Utilities and that’s where we ALL get our water here – it’s up to the providers (like the Town of Clayton or Aqua) to do the water testing.  Johnston County did their own testing, we’re doing our own testing, Aqua is doing its testing. Hope that makes sense.

Here’s a good list of Q & A from the Centers for Disease Control.

After a Boil Water Advisory is Lifted:

• When I turn on the faucet, the water sputters. Why?   You have air in your lines. Turn on your tap slowly and run the water until the sputtering stops.
• The water is discolored. What should I do?  Flush water pipes by running the water until it is clear.  Do not wash clothes if the water is discolored. Wait until the water runs clear at the tap. Wash a load of dark clothes first.
• Why does my water have a strong smell? The smell is probably chlorine. Often, water systems will increase chlorine levels to disinfect the pipes.
• What should I do if my water pressure is low?  Check the faucet screens for trapped particles. Remove the screens and clean out any particles. Put the screens back on the faucet.
• Do I need to clean out my faucets?   Yes. You should flush your faucets after the drinking water advisory.
  • Turn on the main water valve.
  •Turn on the cold water tap at all faucets and run the water until you feel a change in temperature (i.e. the water gets noticeably colder). This may take several minutes. Begin with the faucet that is highest up in your home or building and then open the other faucets one at a time moving from the highest floor to the lowest.
• Do I need to clean appliances?  Yes. Read the owner’s manual for directions to clean appliances such as water softeners and filter units.
• My refrigerator has a water dispenser/ice maker. Do I need to clean them?  Yes. Water dispensers and ice makers are connected to your water line. You need to flush and clean them.  Follow the directions in the owner’s manual or: • Change the filter cartridges. • Throw out ice. • Flush the water dispenser for 3 to 5 minutes. • Run the ice maker for 1 hour. • Throw out all the ice. • Wash and sanitize bin areas.
• Do I need to do something for the water softener?  Yes. You may need to run through a regeneration cycle. Follow the directions in the owner’s manual.
• I have a water treatment unit for the house. Does it need special care?  Yes. Change the filter cartridges. Some units need disinfecting. Follow the directions in the unit’s owner’s manual.