North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Gov. Roy Cooper has announced $462.9 million in funding for 249 infrastructure projects in 80 communities statewide, to strengthen North Carolina’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems.
“Every single North Carolinian deserves clean drinking water, and aging water systems are a threat to the health and economies of too many of our communities,” Cooper said. “Thanks to investments initiated by the Biden administration, we can make a once in a generation transformation in rebuilding water infrastructure for towns and counties throughout our state.”
Cooper and Secretary Biser announced the new round of funding at the Lexington Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. During the announcement, they highlighted $27.9 million in funding the city will receive to create a new dewatering facility that will provide sewer lines all across Davidson County.
In Jackson County, they toured the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority in Cullowhee announcing $4.1 million for a drinking water treatment plant clearwell and a high service pump replacement. The Tuckaseigee Water & Sewer Authority was created in 1992 and serves Jackson County and the Towns of Dillsboro, Sylva and Webster.
“As the regional utility service provider, we are grateful for the State’s support of our wastewater treatment facility,” said Tom Johnson, Lexington Water Resources Utility director. “These grant funds will allow us to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of our infrastructure, safeguard environmental health, and support continued economic development growth in the central part of North Carolina.”
DEQ received 649 applications from 91 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, and reconsidered applications from Spring 2022. In total, 734 applications were considered for funding, representing more than $3.5 billion. The awards are funded by a portion of $2.3 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act, State Revolving Funds (including Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds), and Community Development Block Grant funding.
Projects include:
Drinking Water
- Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District in Cumberland County – $15 million to extend waterlines
- McDowell County – $2.8 million to install waterlines and approximately 107 new service connections to extend water service
- Town of Pittsboro in Chatham County – $17.9 million for two drinking water projects to add new treatment processes to control emerging contaminantsd
- City of Hamlet in Richmond County – $10.3 M for water system improvements
- City of Oxford in Granville County $3.6 million for Oxford Water System expansion and enhancement
Wastewater
- City of Lexington in Davidson County – $27.9 million for wastewater treatment plant improvements
- Brunswick County – $14.9 million to expand sewer service to a disadvantaged/underserved area
- Town of Bath in Beaufort County – $9.8 million for a proposed regionalization project for conveyance of wastewater from the Town of Bath to the City of Washington’s wastewater treatment plant via a new lift station and force main, addressing long-term viability.
- City of Brevard in Transylvania County – $2.28 million to extend sewer lines to resolve failing septic systems.
Stormwater
- City of Wilson in Wilson County – $3.2 million to construct two bioretention/wetlands stormwater control measures to address both stormwater quality and quantity concerns, and one underground detention system at the Headquarters Fire Station on Hines Street to address stormwater quantity issues.
- Town of Morehead City in Carteret County – $5 million for Calico Creek Stormwater Improvements, constructing nature-based stormwater control measures along neighborhood streets to improve water quality in the impaired Calico Creek.
- Town of Nags Head in Dare County – $2.9 million for stormwater infrastructure improvements
- Town of Black Mountain in Buncombe County – $5 million for the Black Mountain North Bank Swannanoa River Floodbench Project
A list of all projects funded statewide by town or county is available on the NCDEQ website.