Governor Roy Cooper revealed today a massive investment of $223,019,448 towards the enhancement of water and wastewater infrastructure across North Carolina. This funding will be distributed to 60 projects spanning 40 counties, including 41 construction initiatives. Over the past two years, North Carolina has invested a significant $2.8 billion into these crucial infrastructures throughout the state.
“This funding will help us achieve our goal of safer, cleaner drinking water for all North Carolinians,” said Governor Cooper in a press release. “We have already seen the positive impacts funding like this can have for drinking and wastewater projects across our state and are ready to get to work to help more communities.”
Among the noteworthy projects receiving funding are:
- The Town of Plymouth in Washington County, identified by the State Water Infrastructure Authority and the Local Government Commission as Distressed, will get up to $7.3 million in low-interest loans for their water system enhancement project, which involves the replacement of the Town’s outdated water metering systems and old galvanized water lines. An additional $9 million in low-interest loans is earmarked to replace aged sewer lines and reduce inflow and infiltration.
- Aqua North Carolina, Inc., a public water utility owned by investors, will be allocated about $3.4 million in loans for the installation of PFAS treatment units in their Brookwood, Wyntree, and Willow Hill water systems.
- Edgecombe County is set to receive up to $2.7 million in grants and loans to extend sewer service to roughly 91 connections for residents of the Lone Pine Mobile Home Park. This is a disadvantaged area currently being served by individual failing septic tanks.
- Town of Brunswick in Columbus County will receive up to $2 million in grants for their Water System Resiliency Improvements Phase 2 project. This involves installing a new elevated tank to address water pressure issues, fire hydrant installation, and abandoning two wells set to be replaced.
- Town of Fair Bluff in Columbus County will receive up to $3 million in grants for their 2023 Gravity Sewer Improvements project. This aims to rehabilitate nearly 50-year-old sewer lines, manholes, and service laterals to reduce inflow and infiltration.
- Cape Fear Public Utility Authority will receive up to $35 million in loans for a project to replace and expand its Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant, which includes the addition of a new activated sludge treatment process.
- Town of Beech Mountain in Watauga County will receive up to $3 million in loans to rehabilitate and replace a significant portion of its sewer collection system that has caused sanitary sewer overflows at the Pond Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and in watersheds that serve as water supply sources.
- Town of Farmville in Pitt County will receive up to $3 million in loans and principal forgiveness to develop its reclaimed water infrastructure to serve industry in the Town and the County.
- Town of Lake Lure in Rutherford County will receive up to $7 million in loans to construct gravity sewer lines and complete a partnership between the Town and Chimney Rock Village through a physical interconnection of their wastewater systems.
- Town of Nashville in Nash County will receive up to $1.6 million in grants and loans to extend sewer service and connect approximately 42 residences in two subdivisions, replacing failing septic systems and improving the resiliency of their wastewater system.
- Hyde County will receive up to $400,000 in grants to develop a comprehensive Stormwater Master Plan for Ocracoke Village and a capital improvement plan which will include conceptual design plans for three stormwater projects.
- Town of Elkin in Surry County will receive up to $315,000 in grants to develop a stormwater plan to safeguard Elkin Creek through nature-based methods to stabilize a stream, minimize erosion, and control runoff through stormwater control measures.
A comprehensive list of all Spring 2023 project applications, selected by the State Water Infrastructure Authority on July 18, is available on the Department of Environmental Quality’s website. Over the last two years, the Authority has approved funding for 770 drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater construction and planning projects, for a total of $1.6 billion.
DEQ’s Division of Water Infrastructure evaluated 338 eligible applications from 83 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, requesting a total of $2.676 billion.
During its meeting on July 18, the State Water Infrastructure Authority approved the awards using the State Revolving Funds (SRF) to offer low-interest loans and Principal Forgiveness loans. Funding from the Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure program also provides grants to fund wastewater and drinking water projects in areas that meet the U.S. Housing and Urban Development low-to-moderate-income threshold. Along with the usual SRF funds, this round included $58.9 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) general supplemental funds. Applications for addressing emerging contaminants (e.g. PFAS) and for identifying and replacing lead service lines were also accepted. Additional BIL funding to address emerging contaminants will be available in the Fall 2023 funding round.
Stormwater planning projects were considered for funding from the Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investments (LASII) fund for stormwater planning grants to conduct research or investigative studies, alternatives analyses, the preparation of engineering concept plans or engineering designs, and similar activities.
The Authority is an independent body with the main responsibility of awarding federal and state funding for water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Other responsibilities include developing a state water infrastructure master plan, recommending ways to maximize the use of available loan and grant funding resources, and examining best and emerging practices.
The application period for the Fall 2023 funding round for water and wastewater infrastructure projects will open on Aug. 2 and ends on Oct. 2 at 5:00 p.m. Training for the application process will be provided through five in-person statewide sessions from Aug. 2-10, with a virtual option available and a recorded training session to be available on the Division website. The training session time and location schedule is available on the Division website.
