Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Sampson County cuts treatment plant offline after contractor-caused break; residents press PFAS, water-quality fixes
Summary
County staff shut down an iron-and-manganese treatment plant after a contractor-installed line burst that caused discolored water calls; commissioners approved grant-funded test wells and a tentative $3.7 million water-main award while residents urged more PFAS protections and clearer grant conditions.
County officials said they shut off an iron-and-manganese treatment plant after a line installed by a contractor broke during Thanksgiving week, discharging material that caused more than 50 calls reporting discolored water.
"I'm embarrassed for us to even be dealing with this contractor and this ordeal," public information officer Mark Turlington told the board, saying the county cut the treatment plant off and will not return it to service until staff are "110% sure" it is safe. He said the county, the county manager and the county attorney have been in firm discussions with the contractor about the incident.
The board also approved financial and procurement steps aimed at expanding water service and improving…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
