LINCOLNTON -- Officials with the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality confirmed Friday that water quality in Pott Creek and South Fork Catawba River near Lincolnton is returning to normal conditions after last week’s 200,000-gallon manure spill into the waterway.

State officials have also confirmed the public water supply utilities for Lincolnton and Dallas, which use the South Fork Catawba River as a source and are downstream of the spill, are returning to normal operations.

A pump malfunction June 26 at the Gladden Dairy in Catawba County caused the manure to spill into the headwaters of nearby Pott Creek, which flows into the South Fork Catawba River, officials said.

Since last week’s spill, DEQ officials have been monitoring and sampling the water quality from the spill location downstream into South Carolina. The DEQ officials took water samples and confirmed that the factors used to measure the quality of the water are returning to normal conditions for this time of year.

Repairs to the dairy’s waste management system are ongoing and DEQ officials will continue to monitor this progress.

State water quality officials also will continue to monitor conditions in the creek and investigate the spill to determine any appropriate enforcement action. State and local officials are working together to address any water quality and public health concerns related to this spill.