LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RECEIVE 54 DRINKING WATER GRANTS

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RECEIVE 54 DRINKING WATER GRANTS

Contact: Johanna Reese, (919) 715-3204
pager: 1-800-412-2235
June 30, 1999
RALEIGH -- The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) today announced the award of 54 grants totaling $100 million to local government units across the state for drinking water system improvements. The department also awarded $9.7 million through seven loans.

      Awards will go to a variety of projects such as wells, treatment plants, storage tanks and water line replacements and extensions.

     "Clean drinking water is the backbone of public health, economic growth and quality of life of our communities," said Governor Jim Hunt. "These grants and loans will help ensure that North Carolina communities continue to provide safe drinking water to people across our state."

     Last year, Hunt signed the Clean Water Bond Bill and pushed for its passage. In November, North Carolina voters overwhelmingly approved the $800 million clean water bond referendum. The clean water bonds provide grants and loans to help local governments expand and improve water supply and wastewater collection and treatment systems, and to undertake water conservation and reuse projects.

     "Providing resources to improve drinking water treatment and distribution infrastructure is an investment in our state’s future," DENR Secretary Wayne McDevitt said. "We have a fundamental responsibility to make sure our state’s drinking water needs are met now and in the decades to come."

     "As a state, we must make wise decisions about how we grow and how we plan to meet future drinking water needs. These grants are designed to encourage that type of planning and wise decision-making."

     To receive the bond monies, systems must meet certain requirements by October 29, including state approval of plans and specifications and environmental review completion if required.

     The money is for systems owned by local governments and is to be used for construction of new or improvements to existing drinking water or wastewater systems. Priority goes to applicants that meet state regulations such as financial responsibility and watershed protection, and that address critical public health and environmental needs, involve regional systems and plan for future growth.

     The N.C. Rural Economic Development Center has released a study of more than 650 water and sewer systems in mostly rural areas. The study estimated that the need for improving and expanding water and sewer systems statewide is more than $11 billion.

     As Governor, Hunt has pushed to protect and restore North Carolina’s waterways. In May 1998, Hunt announced an aggressive clean water budget plan to continue the state’s fight against pfiesteria and water pollution and to strengthen marine fisheries protection. The plan, included in the $77.7 million environmental budget passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Hunt, focuses on three key components -- prevention, detection and response -- to combat water pollution. The budget included critical funding to reduce nutrients and sediments in North Carolina waterways, support the state’s river basin planning program, provide more aggressive responses to fish kills and boost the state’s compliance and enforcement efforts.

     Hunt has fought for fisheries reform, environmental education efforts, improved animal and municipal waste operations, safer drinking water and stepped up enforcement for those who violate water quality regulations. At Hunt’s direction, the state’s Environmental Management Commission approved a plan to reduce the amount of harmful nutrients being released into the troubled Neuse River by 30 percent. The commission is working on a similar plan for the Tar-Pamlico River Basin.

**HIGH-UNIT COST GRANT AWARDS**
Applicant	County	Award Amount
Albertson Water & Sewer District	Duplin	$1,850,576
Andrews, Town of	Cherokee	$2,502,000
Archer's Lodge W.D.	Johnston	$1,532,000
Beaufort County Water District VI	Beaufort	$3,000,000
Belfast-Patetown Sanitary District	Wayne	$3,000,000
Bertie County Water District I	Bertie	$2,539,660
Bertie County Water District II	Bertie	$3,000,000
Bertie County Water District III	Bertie	$3,000,000
Burnsville, Town of-Cane River Middle School	Yancey	$336,840
Catawba, County of	Catawba	$1,295,705
Chatham, County of-Asbury	Chatham	$0
Chatham, County of-Carbonton	Chatham	$1,679,239
Chatham, County of-Durham Interconnect	Chatham	$1,320,761
Chatham, County of-Jordan Lake	Chatham	$0
Columbia, Town of	Tyrrell	$2,170,000
Davie, County of	Davie	$2,281,200
Duplin County	Duplin	$3,000,000
Duplin County Water District B	Duplin	$3,000,000
Duplin County Water District F	Duplin	$3,000,000
Duplin County Water District G	Duplin	$3,000,000
Eastern Wayne Sanitary District	Wayne	$3,000,000
Edgecombe County W & SD No. 2	Edgecombe	$1,465,000
Edgecombe, County of	Edgecombe	$3,000,000
Halifax, County of	Halifax	$1,703,107
Harnett, County of	Harnett	$3,000,000
Hendersonville, City of	Henderson	$3,000,000
Hoke, County of	Hoke	$3,000,000
Holly Springs, Town of	Wake	$2,925,000
Hopewell-Pisgah W. D.	Johnston	$1,523,000
Iredell, County of	Iredell	$330,225
Johnston, County of-Meadow School	Johnston	$878,000
Johnston, County of-Southeast Lowgrounds	Johnston	$964,000
Johnston, County of-Western Johnston Co.	Johnston	$807,000
Jones County	Jones	$3,000,000
Lincoln, County of	Lincoln	$78,841
Lincolnton, City of	Lincoln	$269,425
Linden, Town of	Cumberland	$255,960
Lumberton, City of	Robeson	$774,484
McGee's Crossroads W. D.	Johnston	$1,552,000
Nash, County of	Nash	$2,846,140
Person, County of	Person	$1,603,455
Pollocksville, Town of	Jones	$632,800
Princeton-Kenly W.D.	Johnston	$300,000
Reg. Water Auth of Asheville, Buncombe, & Henderson	Buncombe	$3,000,000
Robbinsville, Town of	Graham	$880,340
Sampson Co. W & S Dist. II	Sampson	$3,000,000
Sanford, City of	Lee	$3,000,000
Siler City, Town of	Chatham	$2,819,140
Southeastern Wayne Sanitary District	Wayne	$3,000,000
Stanfield, Town of	Stanly	$1,355,900
Washington, City of	Beaufort	$3,000,000
Weldon, Town of	Halifax	$1,661,185
Wilson, County of- Southeast Water District	Wilson	$1,121,559
Zebulon, Town of	Wake	$582,203

**BOND LOAN AWARDS**
Applicant	County	Bond Loan Award Amount
Belfast-Patetown Sanitary District	Wayne	$1,000,000
Calypso, Town of	Duplin	$55,750
Carteret, County of	Carteret	$600,000
Eastern Wayne Sanitary District	Wayne	$1,438,000
Fork Township Sanitary District	Wayne	$2,600,000
Greene County	Greene	$2,450,800
Southeastern Wayne Sanitary District	Wayne	$1,600,000