Wednesday, February 19, 2025

CFPUA Sweeney plant recognized by DEQ for surpassing drinking water treatment standards

 

Inside the Sweeney Water Treatment Plant’s filter gallery. (Port City Daily / File)

NEW HANOVER COUNTY — The state’s environmental agency has recognized the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority’s main water treatment plant for surpassing state and federal standards.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recognized the Sweeney Water Treatment Plant, the largest of CFPUA’s three drinking water systems. It will be included among t57 other drinking water plants for surpassing state and federal water treatment standards. As of 2018, this year will mark the 12th year in a row the plant has received N.C. Area Wide Optimization (AWOP) Award from the Public Water Supply (PWS) section of DEQ’s Division of Water Resources

According to the DEQ, awards are allocated yearly based on a water system’s exceptional removal of turbidity, or the measure of water’s cloudiness caused by particles that interfere with disinfection and encourage microbial growth, which can include toxic 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,” DEQ wrote in announcing the most recent award winners.

Staff from Sweeney, including CFPUA Water Treatment Supervisor Ben Kearns, will accept the award July 18 at PWS’s Southeast Section Meeting at the Sanford Water Treatment Plant.

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