GUC’s Water Treatment Plant was among the 49 water treatment plants honored by the N.C. Division of Water Resources for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards.
The division’s Public Water Supply section awarded the facilities the prestigious N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award, which is a state effort to enhance the performance of existing surface water treatment facilities.
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 cloudiness or haziness of water caused by particles that can interfere with disinfection and make it easy for microbial growth, including 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.
“This is our second consecutive year receiving the award,” said GUC’s Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Julius Patrick. “I credit the award to our Water Treatment Plant staff that treated over 4.6 billion gallons of water last year to ensure that we produce the highest quality of water."
GUC and the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority in Wilmington are the only 2016 award winners located east of I-95. Water providers in the western portions of the state begin the treatment process with cleaner source water, so it is easier for them to earn this distinction.
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