The Division of Water Resources has honored 63 water treatment plants for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards in 2024. The division’s Public Water Supply Section awarded the facilities the prestigious N.C. Area Wide Optimization Program (AWOP) Award, which is part of a state effort to enhance the performance of existing surface water treatment facilities.

For 2024, the state recognized 20 facilities with the “Gold Star” honor, which is awarded to systems that have received the AWOP Award for 10 or more consecutive years. They are:

• Broad River Water Authority Water Treatment Plant

• Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - Wilmington - Sweeney Water Treatment Plant

• Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility

• City of Eden - Robert A. Harris Water Filtration Plant

• City of Lincolnton Water Treatment Plant

• City of Mount Airy - F.G. Doggett Water Plant

• City of Mount Airy - S.L. Spencer Water Plant

• City of Newton Water Treatment Plant

• City of Raleigh - D.E. Benton Water Treatment Plant

• City of Raleigh - E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant

• Greenville Utilities Commission - Charles Horne Water Treatment Plant

• Harnett County Water Treatment Plant

• Johnston County Water Treatment Plant (West)

• Kerr Lake Regional Water System

• Maggie Valley Sanitary District Water Treatment Plant

• Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority - John F. Kime Water Treatment Plant

• Town of Boone - Ricky L. Miller Water Treatment Facility

• Town of Madison Water Treatment Plant

• Town of Weaverville-Ivy River Water Treatment Plant

• Town of Wilkesboro Water Filtration Plant

Awards are given each year to water systems that demonstrate outstanding turbidity removal, a key test of drinking water quality. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or haziness of water caused by individual particles that can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Microbes are microscopic particles that occur naturally but can include harmful bacteria and viruses.

While all drinking water systems must meet strict state and federal drinking water standards, these systems met performance goals that are significantly higher. In 2024, more than 2.8 million North Carolina residents were served by these award-winning plants.

The award winners for 2024 are:

• Appalachian State University Water Treatment Plant

• Broad River Water Authority Water Treatment Plant

• Brunswick County Northwest Water Treatment Plant

• Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - Wilmington - Sweeney Water Treatment Plant

• Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility

• Charlotte Water - Lee S. Dukes Water Treatment Plant

• Charlotte Water - Vest Water Treatment Plant

• City of Asheboro - W.L. Brown Water Treatment Plant

• City of Asheville - William DeBruhl Water Treatment Plant

• City of Belmont Water Treatment Plant

• City of Cherryville Water Treatment Plant

• City of Concord - Coddle Creek Water Treatment Plant

• City of Eden - Robert A. Harris Water Filtration Plant

• City of Hendersonville Water Treatment Plant

• City of Hickory Water Treatment Plant

• City of Kannapolis Water Treatment Plant

• City of King Water Treatment Facility

• City of Lenoir Water Treatment Plant

• City of Lincolnton Water Treatment Plant

• City of Mount Airy - F.G. Doggett Water Plant

• City of Mount Airy - S.L. Spencer Water Plant

• City of Mount Holly Water Treatment Plant

• City of Newton Water Treatment Plant

• City of Raleigh - D.E. Benton Water Treatment Plant

• City of Raleigh - E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant

• City of Reidsville Water Treatment Plant

• City of Statesville Water Treatment Plant

• City of Thomasville Water Treatment Plant

• Davie County Water System - Sparks Road Water Treatment Plant

• Fontana Dam Water Treatment Plant

• Franklin Water Plant

• Glenville Water Treatment Plant

• Greenville Utilities Commission - Charles Horne Water Treatment Plant

• Harnett County Water Treatment Plant

• Harris Nuclear Plant Water System

• Johnston County Water Treatment Plant (East)

• Johnston County Water Treatment Plant (West)

• Kerr Lake Regional Water System

• Lincoln County Water Treatment Plant

• Maggie Valley Sanitary District Water Treatment Plant

• Martin County Regional Water and Sewer Authority Water Treatment Plant

• Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority

• Orange Water & Sewer Authority

• Pender County Utilities Surface Water Treatment Plant

• Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority - John F. Kime Water Treatment Plant

• Richmond County Water Treatment Facility

• Salisbury-Rowan Water Treatment Plant

• Spruce Pine Water Treatment Plant

• Town of Blowing Rock - Thomas G. McRary Water Plant

• Town of Boone - Ricky L. Miller Water Treatment Facility

• Town of Dobson Water Treatment Plant

• Town of Hillsborough Water Treatment Plant

• Town of Madison Water Treatment Plant

• Town of Mayodan Water Treatment Plant

• Town of Norwood Water Treatment Plant

• Town of Pittsboro Water Treatment Plant

• Town of Robbinsville - Rock Creek Water Treatment Plant

• Town of Weaverville-Ivy River Water Treatment Plant

• Town of Wilkesboro Water Filtration Plant

• Town of Yadkinville Water Treatment Plant

• Two Rivers Utilities

• Western Carolina University Water Treatment Plant

• Woodfin Water District Treatment Facility