Elkin’s drinking water is some of the best in the state.

The town’s drinking water surpassed federal and state standards, according to an N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“I think part of it is that we draw our water from the Big Elkin Creek rather than the Yadkin River,” said town Manager Lloyd Payne. “You can see just by looking at it that it is a much cleaner source. Pulling that raw water from a cleaner source makes the cleaning process less strenuous.”

Officials with the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources said awards are given out each year to demonstrate “turbidity and microbial removal,” which are important for safe drinking water.

“While all systems have to meet strict state and federal drinking water standards, these systems met performance goals that are significantly more stringent,” stated a press release from the organization.

Pilot Mountain and Mount Airy were also recognized as surpassing drinking water goals.

“Anytime you can exceed, rather than just meet, is great,” Payne said. “It certainly says a great deal about our water system.”

Other areas recognized for clean water:

* Burnsville

* Woodfin Sanitary Water and Sewer

* Weaverville

* Morganton

* Lenoir

* Newton

* Longview

* Andrews

* Two Rivers Utilities

* Robbinsville - Tallulah Water Treatment Plant

* Robbinsville - Rock Creek Water Treatment Plant

* Waynesville

* Maggie Valley Sanitary District

* Mooresville

* Lincolnton

* Lincoln County Water Treatment Plant

* Marion

* Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility - Vest Plant

* Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility - Franklin Plant

* Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility - Lee S. Duke Plant

* Salisbury-Rowan

* Broad River Water Authority

* Boone

* Wilkesboro

* Louisburg

* Mount Airy-Spencer Water Treatment Plant

* Elkin

* Pilot Mountain

* Henderson-Kerr Lake Regional Water

* Fayetteville Public Works Commission

* Harnett County Department of Public Utilities

* Sanford

* Hamlet Water System

* Cape Fear Public Utilities Authority-Wilmington

* Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority

Reach Jessica Pickens at 835-1513 ext. 18 or jpickens@heartlandpublications.com