Reminder: March 2 final application deadline for funds for Helene drinking water, wastewater and septic system resiliency projects

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allocated a combined $686 million to North Carolina for Hurricane Helene-related drinking water, wastewater and septic system projects, with a focus on resiliency and a goal of reducing risk and vulnerability in systems as they face future storms.

DEQ’s Division of Water Infrastructure has been accepting applications year-round for funding these projects. The fourth and final application deadline for these funds is March 2, 2026. Approved projects from this last application deadline will be awarded at the State Water Infrastructure Authority’s meeting April 15 - 16.

Federal Helene funds were made available through the 2025 American Relief Act for western North Carolina towns that have experienced Helene damage.

The funding is available for State Revolving Fund (SRF)-eligible drinking water and clean water (wastewater) projects that serve one or more of the following purposes:

• Reducing flood risk and vulnerability at drinking water/wastewater treatment works

• Enhancing resiliency to rapid hydrologic change or natural disasters at treatment works

Any local government unit or nonprofit water/wastewater corporation affected by Hurricane Helene may apply for funding. Investor-owned drinking water corporations affected by Hurricane Helene may also apply for Drinking Water (DWSRF) Helene funds.

Additionally, funding is available for decentralized wastewater treatment systems (septic system) projects for one or more of the following purposes in Helene-affected areas:

• Repairing, replacing and improving the resilience of septic systems to flooding

• Assessing the potential to connect homes served by decentralized wastewater treatment systems to centralized wastewater treatment systems, or funding such connections

Local government units and nonprofits that provide financing assistance to homeowners to repair or replace septic systems are eligible to apply.

For additional information about all SRF Hurricane Helene funding, visit the Division of Water Infrastructure website. Application materials are posted on the Division’s Application Forms and Additional Resources webpage. The Division of Water Infrastructure’s website also details other types of available funding opportunities.