Cabarrus Today

City of Concord water operator James Coble has been awarded the prestigious C-Surface Operator of the Year Award by the North Carolina Waterworks Operators Association (NCWOA). This award is given annually to one C-Surface certified operator in the state and is considered a significant honor for water treatment plant operators. Coble was recognized for his outstanding ability, devotion, and technical expertise in operating a water treatment facility.

The award was presented during the February City Council Meeting, where Mayor Dusch and council members honored Coble for his commitment to maintaining high water quality standards in Concord. Mike Filkins, Superintendent and Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC) of the Coddle Creek Water Treatment Plant, expressed pride in Coble's achievement: “I’m so proud to see James receive this award,” he said. “It’s a great recognition of his hard work and dedication to his trade and team at Coddle Creek Water Treatment Plant.”

Coble recently completed his first year as a certified operator and has been working full-time at the Coddle Creek Water Treatment Plant since then. Filkins highlighted Coble's ability to make critical decisions regarding chemical dosage adjustments during periods when source water quality was affected by extreme weather events. He noted that “James became an important asset to the team and learned a lot in a very short amount of time. He quickly demonstrated his high level of skill and ability as an operator, and as his supervisor, I sleep better at night knowing he’s on third shift.”

As part of his role, Coble manages complex processes involved in water treatment and distribution, ensuring that drinking water meets or exceeds state and federal quality standards. In December 2024, thanks to efforts from Coble and his team, the Coddle Creek WTP received a North Carolina Area Wide Optimization Award for meeting stringent standards beyond those required by state and federal regulations. This marks the seventh time that the facility has earned this distinction.

The City of Concord operates two water treatment plants—Hillgrove WTP and Coddle Creek WTP—and provides service to over 115,000 residents. The latter produces approximately 5 million gallons of drinking water daily on average.