The NC Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Water Resources has honored 66 water treatment plants for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards in 2025. The division’s Public Water Supply Section awarded the facilities the N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award, which is part of a state effort to enhance the performance of existing surface water treatment facilities.
For 2025, the state recognized 21 facilities with the “Gold Star” honor, which is an award for systems that have received the N.C. Area Wide Optimization 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 Kannapolis 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 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 more stringent than state and federal standards. In 2025, more than 3 million North Carolina residents were served by these award-winning plants.
The award winners for 2025 are:
- Appalachian State University Water Treatment Plant
- Broad River Water Authority 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 Belmont Water Treatment Plant
- City of Burlington - Ed Thomas Water Treatment Plant
- City of Concord - Coddle Creek Water Treatment Plant
- City of Concord - Hillgrove Water Treatment Plant
- City of Eden - Robert A. Harris Water Filtration Plant
- City of Hendersonville Water Treatment Plant
- City of Kannapolis Water Treatment Plant
- City of King Water Treatment Facility
- City of Lincolnton Water Treatment Plant
- City of Morganton - Catawba River 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 Shelby Water Treatment Plant
- City of Statesville Water Treatment Plant
- City of Thomasville Water Treatment Plant
- City of Waynesville - Allens Creek Water Treatment Plant
- Davie County Water System - Sparks Road Water Treatment Plant
- Fontana Dam Water Treatment Plant
- Forest City Water 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
- Hoffer Water Treatment Plant
- 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
- Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District Water Treatment Plant
- 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 Mooresville Water Treatment Plant 2
- Town of Tarboro Water Treatment Plant
- Town of Weaverville-Ivy River Water Treatment Plant
- Town of Wilkesboro Water Filtration Plant
- Town of Yadkinville Water Treatment Plant
- TriRiver Water - Jordan Lake Location
- TriRiver Water - Pittsboro Location
- TriRiver Water - Sanford Location
- Two Rivers Utilities
- Western Carolina University Water Treatment Plant
For more information on the AWOP program, visit the DEQ website.