“In February, I visited communities in Asheville to witness firsthand the crucial role drinking water utilities have in responding to natural disasters,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “This funding to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality will help secure the infrastructure of these systems to ensure EPA can fulfill its core mission to protect human health and the environment.” 

“Hurricane Helene severely damaged drinking water systems throughout Western North Carolina, and thousands of people were without safe drinking water for weeks,” said NCDEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “These investments will make drinking water systems more resilient to future storms, helping to ensure that communities have uninterrupted access to healthy water.” 

These funds are part of the 2025 Supplemental Appropriation for Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the Hawaii Wildfires, administered by the State Revolving Fund. The funds may be used to improve drinking water treatment, distribute water, improve the source of water supply, replace or construct finished water storage tanks and complete other infrastructure projects needed to protect public health through improved drinking water infrastructure.  

Section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes states to utilize funds to further the act’s health protection objectives. Funds will capitalize North Carolina’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which may then make low-interest loans with principal forgiveness toward the cost of planning, design and construction of eligible drinking water improvement projects.