Governor Josh Stein announced that more than $472 million will be allocated to 145 drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects across 66 counties in North Carolina. The funding aims to help cities, towns, and counties improve their water systems, address contamination from so-called forever chemicals, replace lead pipes, and make infrastructure more resilient against future storms.
“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.”
Some of the funded projects include $17.8 million for Cape Fear Public Utility Authority’s Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant Project; $33 million for Goldsboro to construct a treatment project targeting PFAS contamination; $10 million for Newland’s Drinking Water System Resiliency Improvement; $5 million for Forest City’s Sewer System Resiliency Improvements; $1.3 million for Winston-Salem’s Lead Service Line Replacement project; as well as several other grants and loans distributed among various towns such as Woodland, Princeton, Belmont, Grifton, McDowell County, Hot Springs, Southern Pines.
A full list of selected projects is available on the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) website.
The Division of Water Infrastructure reviewed 198 eligible applications requesting nearly $1.89 billion in total funds. The State Water Infrastructure Authority approved the awards at its February 18 meeting. This authority operates independently with responsibility for awarding federal and state funding related to water infrastructure.
Funding sources include State Revolving Funds (SRFs), which offer low-interest loans—some with partial forgiveness—for both drinking water and wastewater initiatives; SRF Supplemental Appropriations aimed at areas impacted by Hurricane Helene; Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure program grants directed toward low- to moderate-income regions; State Reserve Program construction grants prioritizing smaller counties most affected by Hurricane Helene; Viable Utility Reserve grant funding supporting distressed local government units working toward viability.
The next application round begins February 23 with a deadline set for April 30 at 5 p.m., while March 2 marks the final deadline specifically for Helene-related resiliency project applications.
Training sessions on applying for spring 2026 funding will be held in-person in Hickory, Greenville, Research Triangle Park/Durham between February 23–March 4, with an online option available March 4.
Governor Josh Stein has served as the state’s chief executive since becoming North Carolina’s 76th governor according to the official website. The Office of the Governor serves all residents statewide and executes state laws, leads policy direction through budget management and has authority over executive appointments.
