Report on Water Quality Excellence and Sustainable Development Goal Alignment in North Carolina

1.0 Executive Summary

In 2023, the North Carolina Division of Water Resources recognized 79 water treatment facilities, including the Pender County Utilities Surface Water Treatment Plant, with the N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award. This recognition highlights performance that surpasses mandatory federal and state drinking water standards, directly supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The award acknowledges exceptional turbidity removal, a critical factor in ensuring water safety for over 3.6 million residents and advancing public health and community sustainability.

2.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The achievements of the awarded facilities represent a significant contribution to SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

• Target 6.1: Safe and Affordable Drinking Water: By exceeding standard water quality requirements, these facilities advance the goal of providing universal access to safe drinking water. The rigorous optimization goals met by the plants ensure a higher standard of water purity for communities.
• Target 6.3: Improving Water Quality: The award’s focus on superior turbidity removal directly addresses the reduction of pollution. Low turbidity is essential for effective disinfection, preventing the growth of harmful microorganisms and ensuring the water is safe for consumption.

3.0 Broader Contributions to Sustainable Development

The commitment to superior water quality extends beyond SDG 6, impacting other critical development areas.

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: High-quality drinking water is a cornerstone of public health. By minimizing contaminants and the risk of waterborne diseases, these facilities contribute to Target 3.9, which seeks to reduce illnesses and deaths from water pollution and contamination.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The provision of reliable, high-quality water is a fundamental service for sustainable communities. The operational excellence demonstrated by the Pender County plant and others supports Target 11.1 by ensuring access to essential services for residents.

4.0 Performance Metrics and Recognition

The N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award is based on performance goals that are significantly more stringent than regulatory requirements.

4.1 Key Indicator: Turbidity Removal

• Definition: Turbidity measures the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles.
• Significance: High turbidity can shield harmful bacteria and viruses from disinfection processes, posing a public health risk and impeding progress towards SDG 3 and SDG 6.
• Achievement: The 79 recognized facilities demonstrated exceptional performance in minimizing turbidity, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of water treatment and disinfection.

5.0 Conclusion

The recognition of the Pender County Utilities Surface Water Treatment Plant and 78 other facilities underscores a statewide commitment to water quality excellence. This achievement is not only a local success but also a tangible contribution to global sustainability objectives, primarily SDG 6. The dedication of water treatment operators ensures the delivery of safe drinking water, thereby protecting public health (SDG 3) and supporting the development of sustainable communities (SDG 11) across North Carolina.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The article’s central theme is the provision of high-quality drinking water, which is the primary focus of SDG 6. It highlights the recognition of 79 water treatment facilities for “exceeding federal and state drinking water standards,” directly contributing to the goal of ensuring available and sustainable management of water.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article connects water quality directly to public health. It explains that high turbidity can “create an environment for microbial growth, including potentially harmful bacteria and viruses.” By celebrating exceptional turbidity removal, the article underscores efforts to prevent waterborne diseases and protect the health of the 3.6 million residents served.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Safe and reliable drinking water is a fundamental basic service necessary for sustainable communities. The article mentions Pender County Utilities and its role in serving the local population, showcasing the successful provision of essential infrastructure that makes communities safe, resilient, and sustainable.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

• The article directly relates to this target by discussing the successful delivery of safe drinking water. It states that the award-winning facilities achieved “performance goals significantly more rigorous than required” and served “more than 3.6 million North Carolina residents,” demonstrating progress in providing access to high-quality, safe water.

Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

• The focus on “exceptional turbidity removal” is a direct measure to prevent water contamination. The article explicitly states that high turbidity can harbor “harmful bacteria and viruses,” so by exceeding standards for its removal, the water facilities are actively working to reduce the risk of illnesses from contaminated water, aligning perfectly with this target.

Target 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.

• The work of Pender County Utilities and the other 78 facilities is an example of providing a critical “basic service.” The article’s celebration of these utilities for exceeding safety standards confirms their contribution to ensuring residents have access to safe and adequate water services, a cornerstone of sustainable communities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicator for Target 6.1:

• Turbidity Level: The article explicitly identifies “exceptional turbidity removal” as a “critical measure of water quality.” Low turbidity is a direct indicator that the water is safely managed and free from particles that can harbor contaminants. The award is given for achieving goals “significantly more rigorous than required,” making this a measurable indicator of high-quality water.
• Population Served with Safe Water: The article states that “more than 3.6 million North Carolina residents were served by the award-winning facilities.” This number serves as a quantitative indicator of the proportion of the population receiving safely managed drinking water.

Indicator for Target 3.9:

• Water Quality Standard Compliance: The article mentions that all systems must meet “stringent state and federal standards,” and the award recognizes those that go beyond them. The number of facilities (79) exceeding these standards is an indicator of the effort to reduce water contamination and protect public health. The specific focus on turbidity removal acts as a proxy indicator for the reduction of risk from waterborne pathogens.

Indicator for Target 11.1:

• Number of Utilities Meeting High-Performance Goals: The recognition of “79 water treatment facilities” through the N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award serves as an indicator of the quality and reliability of basic water services being provided to communities across the state.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: pendercountync.gov