Governor Josh Stein announced that more than $472 million will be distributed to 145 projects in 66 counties across North Carolina for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvements. The funding aims to help cities, towns, and counties strengthen their systems to better handle future storms, improve current infrastructure, reduce contamination from chemicals such as PFAS, and identify and replace lead pipes.
“After Hurricane Helene, tens of thousands of North Carolinians were without access to clean and reliable water for weeks. Upgrading our state’s aging water infrastructure must be a priority,” said Governor Josh Stein. “These investments will make our infrastructure more resilient in the face of future severe weather or disasters and improve access to clean drinking water for North Carolinians across the state.”
“Families and businesses expect and deserve safe water when they turn on the tap,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “The funded projects will strengthen aging drinking water and wastewater systems and will support healthy communities and a growing economy.”
Among the funded projects are:
– Cape Fear Public Utility Authority: $17.8 million for Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant Project.
– City of Goldsboro (Wayne County): $33 million for a treatment project addressing PFAS contamination.
– Town of Newland (Avery County): $10 million for Drinking Water System Resiliency Improvement.
– Town of Forest City (Rutherford County): $5 million for Sewer System Resiliency Improvements.
– City of Winston-Salem (Forsyth County): $1.3 million for Lead Service Line Replacement.
– Town of Woodland (Northampton County): $3 million for Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation.
– Town of Princeton (Johnston County): $400,000 Merger/Regionalization Feasibility Grant.
– City of Belmont (Gaston County): $400,000 Asset Inventory and Assessment grants.
– Town of Grifton (Pitt County): $5.98 million Viable Utility Reserve grant to replace five pump stations.
– McDowell County: $3.5 million for Providence Hill Water Line Extension project.
– Town of Hot Springs (Madison County): $3.2 million State Reserve Grant for sewer system improvements.
– Town of Southern Pines (Moore County): $5 million loan for Sewer Rehabilitation.
A full list is available on the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality website.
The Division of Water Infrastructure reviewed 198 eligible applications requesting nearly $1.89 billion in total funds before selecting these awards at its February 18 meeting. The State Water Infrastructure Authority approved the funding; this body is responsible for awarding federal and state money to water infrastructure projects.
Funding sources include low-interest loans from State Revolving Funds, principal forgiveness programs related to hurricanes Helene and Milton as well as Hawai’i wildfires, Community Development Block Grants-Infrastructure targeting lower-income areas, State Reserve Program grants prioritizing smaller counties affected by Hurricane Helene, and Viable Utility Reserve grants supporting distressed local government units.
Applications open February 23 for the spring 2026 funding round with an April 30 deadline at 5 p.m., according to the Division’s schedule. In-person training sessions are planned in Hickory, Greenville, Research Triangle Park/Durham between February 23–March 4; a virtual session via Webex is set for March 4 with recordings posted online.
March 2 marks the final application deadline specifically related to Helene disaster resiliency funds.
Josh Stein serves as the 76th governor leading North Carolina’s executive branch statewide operations including directing policy through budgetary authority and appointments (official website). The Office also acts as commander in chief over the National Guard (official website).