News, Events, Training, Public Comment Opportunities
News, Meetings, Events and Training Sessions
Next State Water Infrastructure Authority (SWIA) Meeting
- Jan. 26, 2023 (Viable Utility Committee meeting, virtual only, via WebEx) To listen to the meeting via WebEx:
Online: https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/onstage/g.php?MTID=e38b423c52b99102823447911b5a05270
Event Password: NCDWI
By Phone: 415.655.0003
Access Code: 2435 464 6623
- Feb. 21, 2023 (Full SWIA meeting, in person and virtual, via WebEx)
NEWS: DEQ announces new lead service line replacement funding during summit water infrastructure needs and funding
NEWS: The Research Triangle Environmental Health Collaborative and the N. C. Department of Environmental Quality Summit: North Carolina Water and Equity: Addressing Water Infrastructure Needs and Funding in Disadvantaged Areas
Thursday, January 12, 2023; 8:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., NC Biotech Center, Durham
The North Carolina General Assembly appropriated close to $2 billion from the state’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater investments. In addition, the federal Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act will provide over $1 billion in funding for North Carolina to supplement existing State Revolving Fund programs. There are focused efforts to ensure that funding is made available to address the needs of disadvantaged, underserved communities. Stakeholders include community members, local, state and federal government, and technical service providers.
This one-day summit involved appropriate stakeholders, thought leaders and experts across North Carolina (state/federal/local government, academia/research, community groups, business) to:
- Learn about priorities and concerns of communities and local governments on projects regarding providing service in disadvantaged areas (as pertains to funding and infrastructure).
- Develop resource documents and peer-to-peer networks to educate communities and local governments on next steps or considerations if interested in pursuing a project to provide service in disadvantaged areas.
- Provide guidance to NCDEQ in identifying where such projects are needed to communicate funding opportunities to communities and to local governments.
NEWS: State Announces Record $789.4M for Drinking Water and Wastewater Project Funding Statewide
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Funding awards from all other funding rounds since the State Water Infrastructure Authority's initial funding round in 2014 are listed at: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-infrastructure/state-water-inf….
NEWS: Division of Water Infrastructure Receives Record Number of Applications for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Funding
- Funding Round Included the First Availability of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Funds
- The Spring 2022 application period closed with a record number of applications and more than $3.1 billion in requests for water and wastewater infrastructure funding. The 649 submitted applications represent water and wastewater infrastructure needs across the state, with utilities in 95 of North Carolina’s 100 counties requesting funding.
- The funding offered in this round is a portion of the $1.69 billion appropriated by the North Carolina General Assembly from the state’s allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- Additional details are available in the Division’s ARPA Administration Plan.
NEWS: State Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Plan to Administer American Rescue Plan Act's Funding for Stormwater Projects
https://deq.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2022/05/04/state-seeks-public-co…
Public Comment Period: May 4 - June 3, 2022. Public Comment Period closed at 5:00 p.m. on June 3, 2022.
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PowerPoint from May 18, 2022 ARPA Stormwater Webinar: https://deq.nc.gov/media/29220/download?attachment
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The NC DEQ Division of Water Infrastructure will administer approximately $82 million for stormwater projects through its competitive funding process from the newly-created Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investments fund. Funds are available for cities and counties and their regional councils of government and nonprofit entity partners for projects that will improve or create infrastructure for controlling stormwater quantity and quality.
NEWS: PowerPoint from ARPA Stormwater Funding Listening Session
- PowerPoint Presentation from Listening Sesions: Stormwater Funding Priorities- Listening Sessions
NEWS: Division of Water Infrastructure ARPA Administration Plan
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Recording (at YouTube link, below) of Webinar on ARPA Administration Plan and Spring 2022 Applications for Funding:
National articles/news about the Division of Water Infrastructure:
- March 2021: Article from "Southern Cities" Magazine, a publication of the N. C. League of Municipalities: Utility Regionalization
- June 2020: From "Circle of Blue", a national water news service: North Carolina in early stages of financial review, sees potentially large number of distressed water systems
- October 2019: Read about small community sewer system finances and systems at risk in this story featured in the national water news service "Circle of Blue". (Includes quotes from NC Division of Water Infrastructure Director Kim Colson.) https://weserve-funded Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects: https://deq.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2021/10/11/deq-accepting-public-…ww.circleofblue.org/2019/world/leaky-sewers-plunge-small-north-carolina-towns-into-financial-crisis/?mc_cid=ae8a0e38b5&mc_eid=97d4d1113
- June 2019: Read about the post-hurricane challenges facing small towns in NC in this story featured in "Circle of Blue". (Includes quotes from NC Division of Water Infrastructure Director Kim Colson.) Post-hurricane life for small town is difficult, with relentless challenges that try the patience, budgets and energy of town leaders and residents. A recent series of stories written by Brett Walton featured in the national water news service Circle of Blue captured post-hurricane life for the Town of Fair Bluff, one of the hardest hit by two recent hurricanes. The story on aging sewer systems features quotes from Division of Water infrastructure director Kim Colson. DWI has conducted a pilot study, featuring Fair Bluff, with implications for helping small towns statewide after severe storms and other challenges. Check out the story, which includes links to the series and a related photo gallery, here: Aging Sewer System Imperils North Carolina Town's Finances.
- December 2016: Water Finance and Management Journal: "The Managerial Maestro Behind North Carolina’s Innovative Water Financing Model"
News about "North Carolina's Statewide Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Master Plan: The Road to Viability"
- November 2019: Article featured in the monthly magazine of the NC League of Municipalities, "Southern City", by Francine Durso and Kim Colson: "North Carolina's Statewide Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Master Plan: The Road to Viability"
- April 2019: Article featured in the the national Journal of the American Water Works Association by Francine Durso (Senior Project Manager), J. D. Solomon (former State Water Infrastructure Authority member), and Kim Colson (Director, Division of Water Infrastructure): "North Carolina's Bold Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Plan"
- Summer 2018: NC Rural Water Association's "The Tarheel Pipeline": (See pages 30 - 34, "North Carolina's Statewide Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Master Plan: The Road to Viability")
- Spring 2017: NC Currents [the official publication of the NC Section of the American Water Works Association (NC AWWA) and the NC Member Association of the Water Environment Federation (NCWEA)]: (See pages 34 - 37, Funding and the Value of Water- "NC's Statewide Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Master Plan")
- December 2016: Water Finance and Management Journal: "The Managerial Maestro Behind North Carolina’s Innovative Water Financing Model"