Biden-Harris Administration Announces $69,840,000 for Water Infrastructure in North Carolina Through Investing in America Agenda
RALEIGH, N.C. (October 24, 2024) – On October 23, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to upgrade water infrastructure and keep communities safe. Combined with $2.6 billion announced earlier this month, this $6.2 billion in investments for Fiscal Year 2025 will help communities across the country upgrade water infrastructure that is essential to safely managing wastewater, protecting local freshwater resources, and delivering safe drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses.
These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership. This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs that address key challenges in financing water infrastructure. Today’s announcement includes allotments for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water General Supplemental funds for North Carolina ($44,909,000), Emerging Contaminant funds ($3,877,000), and ($21,054,000) under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Fund.
This funding is part of a five-year, $50 billion investment in water infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – the largest investment in water infrastructure in American history. To ensure investments reach communities that need them the most, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandates that most of the funding announced today must be provided to disadvantaged communities in the form of grants or loans that do not have to be repaid.
“Water keeps us healthy, sustains vibrant communities and dynamic ecosystems, and supports economic opportunity. When our water infrastructure fails, it threatens people’s health, peace of mind, and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment in water, EPA is working with states and local partners to upgrade infrastructure and address local challenges—from lead in drinking water, to PFAS, to water main breaks, to sewer overflows and climate resilience. Together, we are creating good-paying jobs while ensuring that all people can rely on clean and safe water.”
“Clean water is crucial for healthy lives and healthy economies,” said Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “EPA is working hard to help communities across the country address the environmental and economic challenges presented by aging water infrastructure and climate change.”
“I am pleased that North Carolina will receive over $69 million in federal funding to upgrade and modernize our critical water infrastructure that communities depend on every day,” said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04). “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration and the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this significant federal funding will ensure that every community across our state has access to the safe, clean water they need and deserve.”
“Every American deserves access to clean, safe drinking water,” said Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06). “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Democrats passed, North Carolina will receive nearly $70 million in federal funds to make needed upgrades to water infrastructure and deliver safe drinking water for families across the state."
“This new funding, made possible by the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, puts our federal tax dollars to good use by ensuring communities in North Carolina have access to clean, safe drinking water and reliable wastewater infrastructure,” said Congressman Wiley Nickel (NC-13). “Through this historic investment, we’re not only protecting public health and the environment, but also creating jobs and strengthening local economies across the state.”
"I am excited to see the Biden-Harris Administration announce over $69 million in federal funding for water infrastructure in North Carolina," said Congresswoman Ross (NC-02). "I fought to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring needed investments like this back to our community and help usher North Carolina’s outdated infrastructure into the 21st century. By investing in our water systems and clean drinking water for all Americans, we are prioritizing public health and safeguarding North Carolina’s environmental future."
EPA is changing the odds for communities that have faced barriers to planning and accessing federal funding through its Water Technical Assistance program, which helps disadvantaged communities identify water challenges, develop infrastructure upgrade plans, and apply for funding. Communities seeking Water Technical Assistance can request support by completing the WaterTA request form. These efforts also advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
To read stories about how unprecedented investments in water from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are transforming communities across the country, visit EPA’s Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Storymap. To read more about additional projects, see EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects.
For more information, including the state-by-state allocation of 2025 funding and a breakdown of EPA SRF funding available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit the Clean Water State Revolving Fund website and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund website. Additionally, the SRF Public Portal allows users to access data from both the Drinking Water and Clean Water SRF programs through interactive reports, dashboards, and maps.
The State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. SRF programs are critically important programs for investing in the nation’s water infrastructure. They are designed to generate significant and sustainable water quality and public health benefits across the country. Their impact is amplified by the growth inherent in a revolving loan structure, in which payments of principal and interest on loans become available to address future needs.
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