In June 2017, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported, citing broadcaster WECT, that county commissioners in Brunswick County backed a pause to H2GO's planned reverse osmosis plant on 5 June 2017. The facility was to deliver 15,000 m³/day (4 MGD) at a cost of about USD 30 million. In May 2017 it had received an NPDES discharge permit, and two of five construction contracts worth USD 3.4 million had been let. A petition by 900 residents had sought a delay until after the utility's board vote in November 2017.
The report showed that even permitted and partly contracted desalination projects in the US could hinge on local elections and resident opposition.