Pender County Utilities Surface Water Treatment Plant has been recognized by the N.C. Division of Water Resources, part of the Department of Environmental Quality, for exceeding state and federal drinking water standards in 2024.
The facility earned the N.C. Area Wide Optimization Program (AWOP) Award, which honors water systems that go beyond regulatory requirements to provide safe, high-quality drinking water.
This year, 63 water treatment plants statewide received the award. AWOP is a state initiative designed to improve the performance of surface water treatment facilities.
The recognition is based on outstanding turbidity removal — a measure of water clarity and quality. While all drinking water systems must meet strict regulations, award-winning facilities consistently achieve even higher performance goals.