Commissioners moved forward on multiple water projects at the December meeting while residents used public comment to press the county for clearer responses about water quality and PFAS exposure.

Mark Turlington, appearing as the public information presenter, told the board the final phase of a water main installation is under recruitment and that the GFL landfill water-main extension received four bids, with the lowest at $3,701,287. "We actually received 4 bids...the lowest bidder in the amount of $3,701,287 so tonight we're going to ask for y'all to recommend the tentative award for that so we can sign the contracts," staff said.

At the same meeting staff asked the board to adopt a capital project ordinance to set aside state grant funds for northern and southern test wells; the board approved that ordinance to reserve the grant money for the project.

Turlington also described an incident at the iron and manganese treatment plant on Faison Highway during the Thanksgiving week in which a busted line and what he described as contractor workmanship issues led to more than 50 calls about discolored water. "I'm embarrassed for us to even be dealing with this contractor and this ordeal," he said, and said the plant will remain offline until he is "110% sure" it is safe to return to service.

Several residents cited ongoing concerns about PFAS and other contaminants. Retired Sgt. Charles Royer urged additional filtration for pump houses, saying existing zinc filters are not enough for bathing and skin exposure. "When the PFAS came out, they test the water, put the filter on the zinc...But that's the rust we get. But it don't have anything to do with PFAS," Royer said, and urged staff to examine filtration that would protect children and residents in showers.

Antoinette James of Roseboro told commissioners she and neighbors have spent substantial money on wells and described ongoing costs and health worries. "We deserve clean drinking water just like everybody else," she said, adding that residents feel ignored despite repeated requests for help.

County staff and the county manager acknowledged the concerns and described ongoing steps: contract enforcement actions on the contractor responsible for the recent discolored-water event, planned hiring/contracting for test wells using state grants, and the tentative bid award process for the GFL water-main extension. The board recommended the tentative bid award and adopted the capital project ordinance; the contract will move toward final execution if approved in subsequent procedural steps.