North Carolina Wastewater, Drinking Water and Stormwater Loans: Public Comments thru April 1

DEQ is currently accepting public comments on draft proposed changes to priority rating systems for North Carolina wastewater and water funding.

Wastewater Visibility News is sharing the March 1, 2024, media release from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Infrastructure defining the public comment period for proposed changes to the rating system for low-interest loans with principal forgiveness for North Carolina wastewater and water projects.

The following announcement is the media release distributed by the North Carolina Division of Water Infrastructure.

RALEIGH- 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 the 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:

1. Draft PRS Changes for Drinking Water, Wastewater and Emerging Contaminants Projects
2. Draft PRS Changes for the Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure Program
3. Draft PRS Changes for BIL Drinking Water State Revolving Fund-Lead Service Line Replacement Funding
4. Draft PRS Changes for Asset Inventory & Assessment and Merger/Regionalization 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, Comments on Draft Priority Rating System Changes for CDBG-I program, 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

Learn more about the Division of Water Infrastructure at https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-infrastructure.

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More North Carolina wastewater and drinking water updates from Wastewater Visibility News:

• North Carolina Wastewater Project Funding: $223M Approved, More Available