The State Water and Infrastructure Authority will fund $55 million in loans and grants through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Community Development Block Grant for Infrastructure Program. These grants and loans will go toward North Carolina drinking water and wastewater projects.
From Pat McCrory, Governor
Press release
The State Water Infrastructure Authority has announced about $55 million in funding loans and grants to help pay for drinking water and wastewater projects in North Carolina communities.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Community Development Block Grant for Infrastructure Programs will help pay for 22 projects. The announcement of the latest round of awards was made by the State Water Infrastructure Authority at its May 21 meeting.
“Funding from the water infrastructure programs is a critical component in assisting North Carolina communities with replacing and rehabilitating old and failing infrastructure,” said Tom Reeder, an assistant secretary for the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which administers the funds. “These programs allow the department to be a resource of invaluable public assistance, which is a key component of the department’s mission when serving people in North Carolina.”
Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Fifteen projects totaling about $42 million will be funded by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which is made up of a federal grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, and a 20 percent match from the state. The revolving fund is a loan program used to improve water quality by financing wastewater, stormwater and other clean water infrastructure improvements.As an example, one project provides the city of Washington with a $2 million loan to rehabilitate about 22,000 linear feet of sewer lines, mainly consisting of 60-year-old clay pipe in the oldest sections of the eastern North Carolina city. Of the $2 million loan, $500,000 is principal forgiveness and will not need to be repaid.
Community Development Block Grant for Infrastructure Program
Seven projects totaling about $13 million received funding from the federal Community Development Block Grant for Infrastructure Program. The block grant program aims to improve the quality of life, public and environmental health, and economic vitality for low-to-moderate income communities by improving water and wastewater infrastructure.As part of this round of funding, Red Springs received a grant to replace or rehabilitate about 9,600 linear feet of existing sewer line. The project will help the town address a pending administrative order from the EPA that requires the town to address mercury issues at its wastewater treatment plant. A now-closed industry that operated during the early 1900s emitted mercury into the wastewater stream, which was absorbed into the material of the wastewater pipe. Since then, the mercury has been leaching from the pipes into the wastewater stream.
For more information and to see all the funded projects, go to: http://portal.ncdenr.org/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=6cc36f9d-1d16-46d4-9167-7525a01269a3&groupId=14655572. The authority includes appointed state and local officials with interest or experience in water and wastewater issues.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.