Wilmington plumber helps Leland resident battling water contamination issues

LELAND, N.C. (WECT) — On April 24, Al DiMone was watching WECT News when he realized his help was needed.

That night, Albert Harrison, a longtime Leland resident and Vietnam veteran, shared his water quality concerns, expressing frustrations familiar to many people living in Brunswick County and Southeastern North Carolina. PFAS and water safety have been issues for years; recently, county residents have taken their concerns to county commissioners directly, pushing for more change.

People from around the county—mainly from predominantly Black communities—have argued their water is subpar, not safe and that commissioners aren’t doing enough to help them. Some, like Harrison, have suggested race has played a factor in the lack of a strong response. The county, for its part, has maintained its prioritization of the issue, constantly looking at grants and funding sources to improve water quality around the county.

Harrison was relying on private well water, which he said smelled and tasted rotten. It stained his clothes, and he said he and his wife, Ella, instead bought packs of bottled water to avoid drinking it. They believe Ella’s poor kidney health, which led to removal surgery in May, could be linked to drinking the water for years.

“I have served my country, I’ve served my county, I’ve served my area, and I deserve help,” Harrison told WECT in April.

A day after the story aired, help arrived. DiMone’s business, DiMone-Parlier Plumbing and Irrigation, showed up at Harrison’s home on James Way NE in Leland and installed a reverse osmosis system under his kitchen sink in two hours.

As a thank you to the veteran, the Wilmington-based business ensured Harrison incurred no charges. The systems can cost upwards of hundreds of dollars.

“We’re always looking for ways to give back to the community as a company, and furthermore, we’re a veteran,” said the company’s chief operating officer, Brandon Holt.

The reverse osmosis system helps remove PFAS and other contaminants, making the water safer to drink. While it doesn’t cover water used for laundry and in the bathroom, it has been life-changing for the Harrisons. For the first time in years, they feel safe drinking the water coming out of their tap.

“This has really been a help,” Harrison said on Wednesday. “I haven’t seen a more professional group of people do the work. They just really did a great job.”

Even after the help, Harrison said there’s still more work to be done, with the rest of his neighborhood still struggling with water quality and hoping for a fix soon.

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