Read, Watch or Listen

Rockingham, North Carolina — City officials this week said a "pond" taste reported by residents in the drinking water is linked to ongoing drought conditions across the state. The city said its water treatment and other local utilities draw raw water from surface sources including Roberdel Lake and City Pond, and that prolonged lack of rainfall has lowered flows and raised seasonal temperatures. Those changes have increased organic material in raw water and affected normal treatment processes, officials said, and adjustments in treatment during drought can sometimes alter the taste of finished water. Officials emphasized that the Rockingham Water Treatment Plant continues to operate 24/7 with certified operators and has met all federal and state drinking water standards at all times. The city also buys additional treated water from Richmond County to meet peak demand and said the county plant similarly meets safety standards. Officials said they hope incoming rainfall will alleviate the drought, improve raw water quality and allow treatment operations to return to more typical conditions.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.