North Carolina to receive federal funding for drinking water improvements in rural communities

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — North Carolina will receive approximately $741,000 in federal funding to help improve drinking water infrastructure in small and rural communities, according to an announcement Friday from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The funding is part of more than $25 million being made available nationwide through the EPA’s Small, Rural, and Tribal (SmaRT) Drinking Water Assistance Program.

According to the EPA, the grants will help communities make critical drinking water infrastructure upgrades, combat exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), remove sources of lead, and address specific local drinking water challenges.

“Reliable access to clean, safe drinking water is essential for American communities to thrive and a top priority for the Trump EPA,” EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer said in a statement.

The EPA said small and rural water systems often face disproportionate challenges when it comes to drinking water. The agency said the grants will help those systems access resources for infrastructure investments that protect residents from PFAS and other harmful contaminants.

Under the program, funding is provided to states and territories, which are responsible for administering the grant funds and ensuring the money reaches communities that need assistance with local water infrastructure upgrades or compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The SmaRT Drinking Water Assistance Program was established under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act to help public water systems provide clean, safe drinking water.