The North Carolina State Water Infrastructure Authority is directing $472 million in federal drinking water and wastewater funding to 66 counties, supporting projects that will replace aging lead service lines, remove PFAS contamination and strengthen water systems against future storms.
The $472 million combines federal infrastructure funding, state revolving loan programs and Hurricane Helene disaster recovery funds. Awards include a mix of low-interest loans and principal forgiveness aimed at helping smaller and rural communities afford long-delayed infrastructure upgrades.
The largest single award went to the Fayetteville Public Works Commission sourcing $38 million to expand the Rockfish Creek Water Reclamation Facility, increasing wastewater treatment capacity in Cumberland County.
Goldsboro received $33 million for a major PFAS treatment improvement project, one of several awards across the state aimed at addressing emerging contaminants in drinking water.
In Rutherford County, Lake Lure was awarded $31 million for design and construction tied to storm recovery and system hardening following Hurricane Helene.
Other major allocations include $25 million to TriRiver Water for a regional transmission line between Sanford and Pittsboro and nearly $18 million to the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority to replace and expand the Southside wastewater treatment plant in New Hanover County.
Several of the largest awards went to counties affected by Hurricane Helene. Taylorsville, Newland, Forest City and Belmont each received $10 million for water infrastructure projects tied to storm recovery.
The Division of Water Infrastructure’s spring 2026 funding round is now open. Applications for Hurricane Helene resiliency projects are due March 2, while other drinking water and wastewater proposals must be submitted by April 30.
Photo by Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, from Wikimedia Commons
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