‘Undrinkable’: Residents demand action over foul tasting tap water

KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. — A petition is making its way through Kings Mountain as residents continue to raise concerns about the quality of their tap water, describing the taste and smell as unbearable, and demanding transparency, reimbursements and temporary relief from water bills.

“The water is bad,” Katherine Torres, who lives and works in Kings Mountain, said. “Not only does it taste terrible, but you can smell it.”

Torres isn’t alone. Multiple residents told WCNC Charlotte they have stopped drinking the city’s tap water altogether and say even basic routines like showering have become unpleasant.

“I can smell it when I take a shower,” Torres said. “Which is kind of annoying because you’re washing your hair and it’s just nasty,” Torres said.

One local father echoed those concerns, adding, “It definitely has an odd odor to it and certainly an odd taste to it.”

Even local businesses are feeling the ripple effects.

At Rice, a restaurant in town,  the owner said they have heard the complaints from customers firsthand.

The restaurant has since invested in additional filtration systems to ensure food is safe and water quality is improved for customers.

“We spend like almost 20 dollars for cooking water per day,” the owner said. “Normally we have a lot of dine-in.”

The restaurant has also posted signs letting customers know they use filtered water but foot traffic is still down.

Now, a growing number of residents are asking city leaders to take urgent action. A circulating petition is calling for several changes, including:

• Frequent and transparent communication on what’s being added to the water
• Waived water utility bills until water quality is fully restored
• Reimbursement for bottled water and at-home water filtration systems

The petition describes the water as “undrinkable,” with residents noting a foul taste every time they turn on the tap. Petitioners also voiced frustration over a lack of updates from local leaders and uncertainty about the treatment process.

City officials said the water issues stem from increased levels of organic matter in the supply, which comes from Moss Lake. Factors such as stormwater runoff, changes in rainfall and temperature and past dredging activity have contributed to the problem.

In a statement released Tuesday, the City of Kings Mountain emphasized the water remains safe to drink and meets all state and federal quality standards, despite the ongoing taste and odor concerns. 

To address the issue, the city has taken several immediate steps:

• Added additional carbon treatment to reduce organics 
• Activated a fourth treatment basin to increase water retention time
• Suspended dredging at Moss Lake
• Initiated targeted flushing to replace affected water with freshly treated water

The city is also pursuing long-term solutions, including the planned installation of baffle walls and aeration systems, pending approval from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

“We recognize the inconvenience this has caused for affected residents and appreciate the public’s patience as we work toward both immediate and lasting solutions,” the city said in a statement.

Still, not everyone is reassured.

“As far as we know, it is safe to drink, but we are not comfortable drinking it,” said the local father.

City leaders say they will continue to provide updates and are working with the North Carolina Division of Water Resources on next steps.

Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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