News, Events, Training, Public Comment Opportunities

NEWS: DEQ Accepting Public Comment on Draft Proposed Changes to Priority Rating Systems for Water and Wastewater Funding

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Infrastructure is accepting comments until April 1, 2024, on several draft proposed changes to the Priority Rating Systems (PRSs) for the funding programs listed below. The Priority Rating Systems address administration of water and wastewater infrastructure funding.

The Division and the State Water Infrastructure Authority use Priority Rating Systems to score applications for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater projects in North Carolina. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program offers low-interest loans (with principal forgiveness) for water infrastructure, including water and wastewater treatment facilities, wastewater collection systems, water distribution systems, reclaimed water facilities, energy efficiency upgrades, stormwater control measures and stream restoration projects. The Division also offers grants for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects.

Proposed changes to the PRSs were approved by the State Water Infrastructure Authority on Feb. 20, 2024.

Four priority rating system changes are available for public comment:

Draft PRS Changes for Drinking Water, Wastewater and Emerging Contaminants Projects

Draft PRS Changes for the Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure Program

Draft PRS Changes for BIL Drinking Water State Revolving Fund-Lead Service Line Replacement Funding

Draft PRS Changes for Asset Inventory & Assessment and Merger/Regionalizaton Planning Grants from the Viable Utility Reserve

A separate public comment period will be made available for the Intended Use Plans for the State Revolving Funds.

Interested parties are invited to provide comments on the draft Priority Rating Systems by 5 p.m. on April 1, 2024.  Comments can be submitted: 

• by email to: dwi.publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with the subject line: Draft Priority Rating System changes for DW, WW and Emerging Contaminants Projects or Comments on Draft Priority Rating System Changes for CDBG-I program or Comments on Draft Priority Rating System Changes for BIL DWSRF-LSLR or Comments on Draft PRS Changes for AIA & MRF Planning Grants from VUR 

• by mail to: Cathy Akroyd, Division of Water Infrastructure, 1633 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1633

NEWS: Next State Water Infrastructure Authority Meeting: April 16-17, 2024

                        Location: Surry County Service Center, 915 E. Atkins St., Dobson, NC 27017

                                             2024 State Water Infrastructure Authority Meetings: 

                                            Feb. 20, Mar. 19, April 16-17, July 16-17, Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Dec. 10

NEWS: DEQ Accepting Applications for Funding Projects Addressing PFAS in Water or Wastewater Systems: Informational Webinar on PFAS Funding Available Online or by Phone on Aug. 31

• Aug. 31 Webinar on Emerging Contaminants (PFAS) Funding

NEWS: Division of Water Infrastucture to Hold Fall 2023 Drinking Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Loan and Grant Funding Application Training Sessions at Five Sites Statewide

• In-person sessions in Asheville, HIckory, WIlmington, Winterville and Raleigh: virtual and recorded training sessions available

• PowerPoint Presentation from Fall 2023 Application Training Sessions

NEWS: State Announces $223M for Drinking Water and Wastewater Project Funding Statewide

• Spring 2023 SWIA-funded applications

NEWS: DEQ Accepting Public Comment on Draft Water and Wastewater Funding Intended Use Plans and Proposed Changes to Priority Rating Systems 

Public comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on June 30, 2023.

• Draft IUP for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

• Draft IUP for the FY2023 Clean Water State Revolving Fund

• Draft IUP for the FY2022 and FY2023 BIL Drinking Water SRF Emerging Contaminants Funds

• Draft IUP for the FY2022 and FY2023 BIL Clean Water SRF Emerging Contaminants Funds

• Proposed Changes to the 2023 Priority Rating System for CDBG-I Infrastructure Funding

• Proposed Changes to the 2023 Priority Rating Systems for Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investments 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"