South Raleigh News

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that communities across the state will receive over $253 million in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure funding, as well as stormwater construction grants. This funding will support 70 projects in 30 counties, including 51 construction projects. The awards encompass emerging contaminants (PFAS) funding and resources for lead service line inventories and replacements.

"Strong water and wastewater systems are vital for safe drinking water and economic development," said Governor Cooper. "Thanks to federal funding from the Biden-Harris Administration and state appropriations we’ve made historic investments to rebuild and replace aging systems, especially in rural communities, which will make our state stronger."

“Replacing aging infrastructure and adding the capacity to remove forever chemicals from drinking water benefits the health and pocketbooks of North Carolinians,” stated DEQ Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser. “Funding these projects supports the future success of communities across our state.”

Notable projects include:

- Fayetteville Public Works Commission will receive $30,000,000 in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund funds and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Drinking Water-Emerging Contaminant funds for a project featuring construction of a Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) facility for PFAS treatment.

- Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority (Lenoir County) will receive $2,160,000 in BIL Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Emerging Contaminants funds for a PFAS treatment construction project.

- The Town of Beech Mountain (Avery and Watauga Counties) will receive $10,000,000 in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund funds for a Water System Improvement Project.

- Junaluska Sanitary District (Haywood County) will receive $9,495,104 in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund funds for a Low-Pressure Water Line Rehabilitation Project.

- The City of Asheboro (Randolph County) will receive $500,000 in BIL-Drinking Water State Revolving Fund funds for the W.L. Brown Water Treatment Plant Emerging Contaminant (PFAS) Planning Study.

- The City of Sanford (Lee County) will receive $5,028,395 in State Wastewater Reserve and Clean Water State Revolving Fund funds for the Sanford Third Street Area Sewer Rehabilitation Project.

- The Town of Ayden (Pitt County) will receive $1,400,000 in Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure program funds for the Woodcrest Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project.

- The City of Eden (Rockingham County) will receive $7,203,212 in Clean Water State Revolving Fund funds for the City of Eden North Basin Repairs Project.

- Gates County will receive $1,305,333 in Clean Water State Revolving Fund funds for the Buckland School Wastewater Improvements Project and $2,816,052 for the Cooper School Wastewater Improvements Project.

- Orange Water and Sewer Authority (Orange County) will receive $3,245,000 in BIL Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Replacement loans to replace lead service lines.

The following local government units designated as distressed by the State Water Infrastructure Authority and Local Government Commission will receive Asset Inventory and Assessment grants from the Viable Utility Reserve: Creswell; Denton; Morven; Ossipee; Rich Square; Snow Hill; Gates County; McDowell County; Swan Quarter Sanitary District.

The Division reviewed 221 eligible applications from 65 of North Carolina’s 100 counties requesting $2.64 billion. The State Water Infrastructure Authority approved these awards during its July 16 meeting. A complete list of funded projects is available on the Department of Environmental Quality website.

Funding sources included Drinking Water (DWSRF), Clean Water (CWSRF) State Revolving Funds such as BIL DWSRF-Emerging Contaminants fund (BIL DWSRF-EC), BIL DWSRF Lead Service Line Replacement fund (BIL DWSRF-LSLR), Drinking Water & Wastewater State Reserves; Viable Utilities Reserve (VUR); Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure program; Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investments fund.

State Revolving Funds provide low-interest loans with Principal Forgiveness options. CDBG-I program grants fund wastewater/drinking water projects meeting U.S. Housing/Urban Development low-to-moderate income thresholds. Applications addressing emerging contaminants or identifying/replacing lead service lines were also accepted.

The application period for Fall 2024 funding opens July 30 through Sept. 30 at 5 p.m., with training provided through statewide sessions between July 30-August 9 plus virtual options on DEQ’s website.

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