The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has allocated $686 million to North Carolina for projects aimed at improving the resilience of drinking water, wastewater, and septic systems in areas affected by Hurricane Helene. The funds are intended to help reduce risk and vulnerability in these systems as they face future storms.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Infrastructure is managing the distribution of these funds. Applications for funding have been accepted on a rolling basis, with the fourth and final deadline set for March 2, 2026. Projects approved from this round will be awarded at the State Water Infrastructure Authority’s meeting scheduled for April 15-16.
Federal funding was made available through the 2025 American Relief Act, specifically targeting western North Carolina towns that experienced damage from Hurricane Helene. Eligible projects include those that reduce flood risk and vulnerability at drinking water or wastewater treatment facilities and enhance resiliency to rapid hydrologic changes or natural disasters.
Local government units or nonprofit water or wastewater corporations impacted by Hurricane Helene may apply for funding. Investor-owned drinking water corporations affected by the hurricane can also seek Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Helene funds.
Additional funding is available for decentralized wastewater treatment systems (septic system) projects in Helene-affected areas. These projects may focus on repairing, replacing, or improving septic system resilience to flooding, as well as assessing or funding connections from homes with decentralized systems to centralized wastewater treatment facilities. Local governments and nonprofits providing financial assistance to homeowners for septic repairs or replacements are eligible to apply.
For more information about SRF Hurricane Helene funding opportunities and application materials, interested parties can visit the Division of Water Infrastructure website and its Application Forms and Additional Resources webpage.
The Department of Environmental Quality serves as a state agency focused on regulating and protecting North Carolina’s natural resources and environmental quality (https://www.deq.nc.gov/). It supports public education, environmental compliance, science-based stewardship, regulatory authority over air, land, water, coastal environments, permit issuance, law enforcement related to environmental issues, waste management services, and oversight of water resources across North Carolina (https://www.deq.nc.gov/). The department maintains its central office in Raleigh (https://www.deq.nc.gov/).
