The State Water Infrastructure Authority has approved more than $215 million in funding for 66 drinking water and wastewater projects across 26 counties in North Carolina. The program will support system repairs, upgrades, and resiliency improvements, with a focus on infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene.
The project scope includes drinking water system upgrades, wastewater treatment plant construction and relocation, pipeline replacements, and resiliency improvements. Several projects will also address lead service line replacement and emerging contaminants such as PFAS.
The total project cost exceeds $215 million. Approximately $196 million will support communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Funding sources include the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocations for lead service line replacement and emerging contaminants, Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure (CDBG-I) funding, and supplemental federal disaster appropriations.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Infrastructure will administer the program, while local governments and water utilities will implement individual projects. Key recipients include the Town of Black Mountain, Town of Marshall, City of Morganton, Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority, City of Gastonia, and Cleveland County Water.
The State Water Infrastructure Authority approved the funding during its April 15–16, 2026 meeting. The program will improve access to safe and reliable drinking water, strengthen wastewater systems, and increase resilience against future storms.