North Carolina Construction News staff writer
A total of 28 counties across North Carolina will share more than $244 million for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects, with $44 million going to western North Carolina to continue Hurricane Helene recovery.
The State Water Infrastructure Authority (SWIA) approved awards on July 15 to help cities, towns, and counties strengthen infrastructure to better withstand future storms, improve existing drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, reduce forever chemicals contamination, and identify and replace lead pipes.
“These new projects will make towns’ water systems more resilient, protect residents from forever chemicals, and make North Carolina’s communities safer, stronger, and healthier for years to come,” said Gov. Josh Stein.
The State Water Infrastructure Authority, an independent body with primary responsibility for awarding federal and state funding for water infrastructure projects, approved a total of 45 projects for funding during its July 15 meeting in Raleigh.
Some of the projects funded include:
- City of Graham (Alamance County): $26.6 million loan for Graham-Mebane Water Treatment Plant Reliability Project.
- South Granville Water & Sewer Authority (Granville County): $21.9 million loan for Post-Filter PFAS Treatment Improvements Project.
- Pitt County: $250,000 loan to repair or replace failing septic systems.
- City of Marion (McDowell County): $3.4 million loan for Lead & Copper Service Replacement Project and $1 million for its Lead & Copper Service Inventory Project.
- City of Hendersonville (Henderson County): $35 million for its Wastewater Treatment Facility Flood Mitigation Project.
- Town of Newport (Carteret County): $13.4 million for its Water Treatment Improvements / Replacement Water Plant Project.
- Town of Siler City / TriRiver Water (Lee County): $5 million loan for the Siler City PFAS Treatment construction project.
- Town of Waynesville (Haywood County): $5.4 million for Wastewater Treatment Plant Resiliency Upgrades Project.
- Town of Littleton (Halifax County): $1.9 million for the Find & Replace Lead Service Line Project and = $589,000 for its Lead Service Line Replacement Project.
- Village of Simpson (Pitt County): $10 million for Wastewater Collection System Improvements Project.
- Town of Spring Lake (Cumberland County): $1.6 million for its Drinking Water System Improvements Project and $3.4 million for Sewer System Improvements Project.
A complete list of the projects selected for funding is available on the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) website. DEQ’s Division of Water Infrastructure (DWI) reviewed 123 applications, which requested a total of $1.6 billion.
DWI will offer a fall 2026 funding round, which begins Aug. 4. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Sept. 30, 2026.
In-person funding application training for the fall 2026 funding round from Aug. 4 through Aug. 12 at four locations: Hickory, Asheville, Research Triangle Park/Durham, and Kinston. A virtual option via Webex will also be available on Aug. 10, and a recording of the training will be posted on the division’s application training web page.