News & Updates

Ninth consecutive year County has received statewide recognition

The N.C. Division of Water Resources has honored Harnett Regional Water and 56 other water treatment plants across the state of North Carolina for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards in 2018.

The division’s Public Water Supply section awarded the facilities the prestigious N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award, which is part of a state effort to enhance the performance of existing surface water treatment facilities.

In 2018, the state recognized six facilities with the “Gold Star” honor, which is an award for systems that have received the N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award for 10 consecutive years. They are Andrews, Weaverville, Newton, Lincolnton, Marion and Henderson-Kerr Lake Regional Water Authority.

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 more stringent than state and federal standards. In 2018, nearly 3 million North Carolina residents were served by these award-winning plants.

Harnett Regional Water has received the N.C. Area Wide Optimization for the past 9 years. The mission of Harnett Regional Water is to provide the highest quality of water and wastewater services to the citizens of Harnett County and the surrounding region at the most economical cost while promoting conservation and protecting the environment.

“Harnett Regional Water is very proud of our record of environmental compliance as evidenced by this water quality award,” stated Harnett Regional Water Director Steve Ward.  “The fact that we have received the award for 9 consecutive years is a testament to our commitment to water quality.  Harnett Regional Water is very fortunate to have such a fine group of water treatment professionals who strive daily to provide only the best drinking water to all of our customers in the County and surrounding region.”

In addition to Harnett Regional Water, the award winners for 2018 are Andrews, Appalachian State University, Asheville – North Fork, Asheville – William DeBruhl, Boone, Broad River Water Authority, Burnsville, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority – Wilmington-Sweeney, Cary, Charlotte Water – Franklin, Charlotte Water – Lee S. Duke, Charlotte Water – Vest, Cherryville, Cleveland County, Concord – Coddle Creek, Eden – Robert A. Harris, Elkin, Franklin, Greenville Utilities Commission – Charles Horne, Hamlet, Harris Nuclear Plant, Harnett County, Henderson-Kerr Lake Regional Water Authority, Johnston County – West, Kannapolis, Lincoln County, Lincolnton, Louisburg, Madison, Maggie Valley Sanitary District, Marion, Mayodan, Morganton – Catawba, Mount Airy – F.G. Doggett, Mount Airy – S. L. Spencer, Mount Holly, Newton, Norwood, Orange Water & Sewer Authority, Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority – John F. Kime, Pilot Mountain, Pittsboro, Raleigh – D.E. Benton, Raleigh – E.M. Johnson, Robbinsville – Rock Creek, Sandford, Smithfield, Statesville, Tuckaseigee, Two Rivers Utilities, Valdese, Waynesville – Allens Creek, Weaverville – Ivy River, Western Carolina University, Wilkesboro, Woodfin Water District, Yadkinville.

For more information, contact N.C. Drinking Water Protection Program Coordinator Rebecca Sadosky at mailto:Rebecca.Sadosky@ncdenr.gov or 919-707-9096.