The Governor of North Carolina is now directing hundreds of millions toward strengthening water systems across our state.
Josh Stein announced that 66 projects across 26 counties will receive more than $215 million for drinking water and wastewater improvements.
“People need to have access to clean, reliable water,” said Governor Josh Stein in a press release. “These investments will help rebuild infrastructure more resilient so families can count on safe water, especially when disaster strikes.”
The funding, approved by the State Water Infrastructure Authority, is largely tied to recovery from Hurricane Helene, with about $196 million going to impacted communities.
Officials say the projects will repair damaged systems while also improving resilience against future storms.
So far, the state and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality have awarded $861 million for Helene-related water infrastructure.
Demand still exceeds funding. The state received $1.3 billion in requests, leaving about $655 million in unmet needs.
Several local projects are included:
- Gastonia: $10 million for water resiliency
- Mount Holly: $4.6 million for lead pipe replacement
- Union County: $500,000 for PFAS study
- Cleveland County Water: $8.5 million for system upgrades
The funding comes from a mix of federal and state programs, including disaster recovery funds and infrastructure legislation.
For the Charlotte region, the investments highlight ongoing efforts to strengthen water systems as the area continues to grow and face more extreme weather.
