Water Infrastructure Projects In ENC Receive Funding

Gov. Cooper on Tuesday announced $112 million dollars in loans for 26 drinking water and wastewater improvement projects across the state, nine of which are in Eastern North Carolina communities.The N.C. Water Infrastructure Authority approved 26 projects for funding at their July 10 meeting. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund approved a $20 million loan to upgrade and expand Greenville’s water treatment plant. Morehead City and Goldsboro received $3 million each for water system improvements. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund approved nearly $7 million for upgrades to a pump station in Pitt County, as well as $3 million for electrical building repair and plant mitigation improvements for Onslow Water and Sewer Authority. Projects in Dare, Bertie, and Johnston counties also received funding. Gov. Cooper said in a news release that communities across the state need strong, resilient infrastructure to support economic development. According to UNC’s Environmental Finance Center, the 20-year infrastructure needs for the state range from $17 to $26 billion for drinking water and wastewater systems.