CFPUA and Pender County water treatment plants earn state recognition

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Two Cape Fear water treatment plants are among 66 facilities statewide recognized for surpassing state and federal drinking water standards in 2025.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources awarded the N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award to Cape Fear Public Utility Authority’s Sweeney Water Treatment Plant in Wilmington and the Pender County Utilities Surface Water Treatment Plant.

The Sweeney Water Treatment Plant also received the state’s “Gold Star” honor, which recognizes systems that have received the Area Wide Optimization Award for at least 10 consecutive years.

Sweeney was one of 21 facilities statewide to receive the Gold Star recognition for 2025.

The awards recognize water systems for performance in turbidity removal. Turbidity measures the cloudiness or haziness of water caused by particles that can interfere with disinfection and provide an environment for microbial growth.

According to DEQ, while all drinking water systems are required to meet state and federal standards, the 66 facilities receiving the awards met performance goals that are significantly more stringent than those requirements.

More than 3 million North Carolina residents were served by the award-winning water treatment plants in 2025, according to the state.