Tropical Storm Helene completely changed the landscape of Western North Carolina, wiping entire towns off the map and leaving more than 100,000 homes and businesses damaged. Helene also changed how we need to think about water infrastructure challenges and solutions.
To some extent, we weren’t as surprised when we saw the devastation that Hurricanes Matthew and Florence leveled on North Carolina’s eastern infrastructure. As a state, we have had conversations for years about inland flooding and coastal risk to our water system with each passing storm. But Helene reminded us that this is not an isolated regional risk and that even the mountains of Western North Carolina are not safe from water system vulnerabilities and interruptions associated with these storms. As our state recovers, how can we use this experience to be more prepared for future severe weather events?
One key opportunity is for us to leverage the momentous wave of federal infrastructure funding made available to states over the past several years through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). North Carolina alone is slated to receive over $603 million in direct funding for water infrastructure and coastal resiliency from the BIL. This comes in addition to tens of millions for water-related projects in the state that have been channeled through federal agencies like the Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA and others.
This is the biggest investment in water infrastructure in our state’s history, and we’re already seeing how these investments can transform North Carolina’s communities. Fayetteville Public Works Commission is building a new facility that will remove harmful chemicals from drinking water. The City of Asheville is investing $1.9 million to update water lines in the historically Black Shiloh neighborhood, and Orange County is investing over $3.2 million to replace aging service lines. In February 2024, North Carolina received over $361 million in new BIL funding for other water infrastructure upgrades.
However, there is still much more work to be done to mitigate future community risks to water infrastructure. In 2004, Hurricanes Frances and Ivan left mountain communities without water for weeks. Two decades later, Helene caused similar devastation across WNC. Many communities are already showing what’s possible with this historic federal support. Spruce Pine is already using hazard mitigation funding to move its wastewater treatment plant to higher ground rather than rebuilding in a flood plain, and Cape Fear is rebuilding an aging wastewater treatment plant.
This need for water infrastructure investment is intensified because the number of North Carolinians depending on reliable infrastructure is growing. As one of the fastest-growing states in the country — projected to add another 2 million residents by 2030 according to the NC Office of State Budget and Management — our aging water infrastructure is under strain.
At the same time, there are many small rural water systems across North Carolina serving smaller populations, and there are between 2 and 3 million people in North Carolina who rely on private wells for their drinking water supply. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates North Carolina needs over $21 billion for water infrastructure improvements over the next two decades to meet this demand. The BIL and IRA funding present an opportunity for communities across our state to make these kinds of smart investments to do more than repair damage but also build more resilient systems for the future.
If we get this right, and we invest this historic funding in our water systems in ways that make them stronger and more sustainable, we will open up new opportunities for our communities. The U.S. Water Alliance teams helping people on the ground are seeing firsthand how investments provide community benefits like improved health and access, senior centers, new businesses and open public spaces. This investment is not just about pumps and pipes — it’s about safety, economic opportunity, public health and resilience.
As we approach a presidential transition in 2025, water infrastructure must remain a priority — because as Hurricane Helene reminded us, clean, reliable water is essential for our communities to survive and thrive now and in the future. Even though the devastation and impact on water services after Helene felt like a shock, we know there will be more threats in the future. The time is now to embrace the infrastructure funding flowing into our state and to reshape our systems in ways that benefit all North Carolinians.
Erin Riggs is Director of the Environmental Finance Center, US Water Alliance