ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The N.C. Division of Water Resources has recognized 63 drinking water treatment plants for exceeding state and federal standards in 2024.

The facilities earned the state’s Area Wide Optimization Program (AWOP) Award, which promotes higher performance among surface water treatment systems. The program focuses on reducing turbidity, or cloudiness in water, that can interfere with disinfection and allow harmful microbes to thrive.

Twenty of the plants also received the “Gold Star” designation for earning the award at least 10 consecutive years. Those systems serve communities ranging from Boone and Maggie Valley to Raleigh and Greenville, supplying drinking water to more than 2.8 million North Carolina residents.

While all public water systems must meet strict federal and state standards, these facilities went above and beyond to protect public health, Division of Water Resources officials said in a news release.

The “Gold Star” awardees include Asheville, Hendersonville, Cary/Apex, Greenville Utilities Commission, the town of Wilkesboro, two Raleigh facilities and plants in Mount Airy, Boone and Weaverville, among others.

The full list of 2024 AWOP award winners includes: Appalachian State University, Charlotte Water’s Lee S. Dukes and Vest plants, City of Asheville’s William DeBruhl plant, Brunswick County Northwest, Johnston County’s East and West plants, Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority and Western Carolina University, among others.

Gold Star honorees

  • 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 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

AWOP award winners:

  • Appalachian State University Water Treatment Plant
  • Broad River Water Authority Water Treatment Plant
  • Brunswick County Northwest 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 Asheboro – W.L. Brown Water Treatment Plant
  • City of Asheville – William DeBruhl Water Treatment Plant
  • City of Belmont Water Treatment Plant
  • City of Cherryville Water Treatment Plant
  • City of Concord – Coddle Creek Water Treatment Plant
  • City of Eden – Robert A. Harris Water Filtration Plant
  • City of Hendersonville Water Treatment Plant
  • City of Hickory Water Treatment Plant
  • City of Kannapolis Water Treatment Plant
  • City of King Water Treatment Facility
  • City of Lenoir 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 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 Statesville Water Treatment Plant
  • City of Thomasville Water Treatment Plant
  • Davie County Water System – Sparks Road Water Treatment Plant
  • Fontana Dam Water Treatment 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
  • 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
  • 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 Norwood Water Treatment Plant
  • Town of Pittsboro Water Treatment Plant
  • Town of Robbinsville – Rock Creek Water Treatment Plant
  • Town of Weaverville-Ivy River Water Treatment Plant
  • Town of Wilkesboro Water Filtration Plant
  • Town of Yadkinville Water Treatment Plant
  • Two Rivers Utilities
  • Western Carolina University Water Treatment Plant
  • Woodfin Water District Treatment Facility