DRINKING WATER & WASTEWATER SPRING 2026 FUNDING ROUND

DRINKING WATER & WASTEWATER SPRING 2026 FUNDING ROUND is sponsored by North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (Division of Water Infrastructure). Funds for drinking water, wastewater, resiliency projects statewide (including health‐related infrastructure improvements).

Application Training, BUMP Training, WWEE Training | NC DEQ Fall 2026 Application Training Division of Water Infrastructure Announces Fall 2026 Funding Application Training Sessions at Four Locations Statewide Aug. 4 – Hickory (In-person) Aug. 5 – Asheville (In-person) Aug.

10 – Research Triangle Park/Durham (In-person and Virtual*) Aug. 12 – Kinston (In-person) *The Aug. 10 session will also be offered virtually and recorded for later viewing on the Division website .

Low-interest loans and grant funding are available for drinking water and wastewater projects. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend training. There is no cost to register.

Fall 2026 funding applications must be received by the Division no later than 5:00 p. m. on September 30, 2026.

Training will cover information on funding programs, application package completion, Priority Rating Systems, and funding timelines. Training will include instructions on how to apply for multiple existing funding programs, including funding to evaluate options to address PFAS contamination and funding to identify and replace lead service lines. Additional information related to the various funding programs will also be provided.

Fall 2026 Application Training PowerPoint Presentation Schedule and Locations for Fall 2026 Application Training Sessions RSVP by registering online prior to the desired session. All training sessions contain the same content. Application materials will be available on the Division website before training begins.

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Hickory, 10 a. m.

– 4 p. m. (40 seats available) Western Piedmont Council of Governments 1880 2nd Avenue, NW, Hickory, NC 28601 Wednesday, Aug.

5, 2026, in Asheville, 10 a. m. – 4 p.

m. (25 seats available) Land of Sky Regional Council 339 New Leicester Hwy. , Suite 140, Asheville, NC 28806 Monday, Aug.

10, 2026, at Research Triangle Park/Durham, 10 a. m. – 4 p.

m. (35 seats available) Central Pines Regional Council (Longleaf Room) 4307 Emperor Boulevard, Suite 110, Durham, NC 27703 A virtual option is also available on this day only. Webex link for online participation: https://ncgov.

webex. com/ncgov/j. php?

MTID=me005b33a7408241d9c51227b6b18cf85 (Password: NCDWI, Call-In #: 415. 655. 0003, Access Code: 2426 093 0718).

A recording of the training will be available on the Division’s website. Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Kinston, 10 a.

m. – 4 p. m.

(40 seats available) City of Kinston Public Services 207 East King Street, Kinston, NC 28501 Funding Availability for Fall 2026 Applications Applications will be considered for the following programs and will be covered in the training sessions: Applications for drinking water and wastewater construction projects will be considered for funding from the Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure program, the State Revolving Funds, including Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds, and State Reserve Program construction projects.

Local government units (LGUs) and non-profit water/wastewater corporations may apply for funding. Investor-owned drinking water utilities may apply for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The Community Development Block Grant-Infrastructure (CDBG-I) program will provide grants to fund projects in areas that meet the U.S. Housing and Urban Development low-to-moderate income threshold.

CDBG-I is available to non-entitlement municipalities and counties and offers grants up to $3 million per applicant every three years. The State Revolving Funds (SRFs) will provide low-interest loans (including loans that may be partially forgiven) for drinking water and wastewater projects.

In addition to the SRF funds typically available, this round will include the use of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds, IIJA Emerging Contaminants (PFAS) funds and IIJA Lead Service Line Replacement funds . Eligible utilities may apply for up to $25 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loans and up to $35 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans.

Limits vary for Emerging Contaminants and for Lead Service Line Replacement funding. State Reserve Program (SRP) construction projects will provide grants for drinking water and wastewater projects. Utilities are eligible for up to $3 million every three years.

Applications for drinking water and wastewater planning projects will be considered for grant funding from the SRP for the following purposes: Asset Inventory and Assessment (AIA) grants : to inventory the existing water and/or wastewater systems and document the condition of the inventoried infrastructure. SRP grant limits are $225,000 per system type every three years.

Merger/Regionalization Feasibility (MRF) grants : to determine the feasibility of consolidating the management of multiple utilities into a single utility operation or to provide regional water/wastewater treatment, and the best way of carrying out the project. SRP grant limits are $75,000 per system type every three years. Best Utility Management Practices (BUMP) Training Have questions about your LGU's BUMP Training status?

Contact the VU training coordinator, Tony Dongarra ( DEQ. DWI. VUtraining@deq.

nc. gov or 919-707-3632) Best Utility Management Practices (BUMP) Training is offered by the NC Department of Environment Quality, Division of Water Infrastructure's (DWI) Viable Utilities (VU) Program. BUMP training covers basic technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) best practices for water and wastewater utilities and offers an opportunity for distressed utilities to network with one another.

It is a FREE, 1-day course that occurs in-person each year. REMINDER: Distressed LGUs are statutorily required to send a delegation to BUMP training. ALL LGUs/utilities are welcome to participate and LGUs may send more than four participants.

A complete delegation is comprised of at least: • 1 Utility/Technical staff Refresher training is not required for individuals who have completed BUMP training. However, distressed LGUs are required to keep their training status current (i.e., completed by current employees in all 4 required roles). Therefore, if you have had turnover of trained staff, please send their replacements for training.

Water and Wastewater Energy Efficiency (WWEE) Training Program Enhance your water and wastewater facility’s energy efficiency with the no-cost Water and Wastewater Energy Efficiency (WWEE) Training Program! The WWEE Training Program is offered by the NC DEQ’s State Energy Office and Division of Water Infrastructure .

This expert-led program equips personnel with essential energy management strategies, cost-saving techniques, and practical energy conservation measures. Attendees will gain practical insights into optimizing energy consumption, improving reliability, and ensuring long-term success.

With multiple locations and dates available, plus six (6) professional development hours (PDHs), this is a must-attend opportunity for water and wastewater professionals dedicated to improving operations and reducing costs. 2026 program dates (attend 1, 2, or 3 days): Class #4: Statesville, NC (May 19-21, 2026) Class #5: Hendersonville, NC (June 23-25, 2026) Class #6: Central to Eastern NC (Sept.

22-24, 2026, Location TBD) Secure your spot today and bring your colleagues and neighboring utilities. Register here . Interested but unable to attend the scheduled courses?

Additional sessions to be scheduled! Program Concept and Overview The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s State Energy Office (SEO) and Division of Water Infrastructure (DWI) are partnering to offer a no-cost energy efficiency training program for NC water and wastewater facilities and personnel.

The program will be taught by industry experts in conjunction with our contracted training provider, the Institute of Energy Professionals (IEP).

The goals of the program are: to introduce water and wastewater personnel to basic concepts of energy management principles (i.e., energy bills, demand, rates, calculations, metrics, basic energy conservation measures or ECMs); to focus on energy efficiency opportunities specific to water and/or wastewater treatment plants (i.e., motors/VFDs, process improvements, aeration, etc.); to emphasize that energy is only one of many challenges a small, rural water and wastewater operator faces; and to highlight the importance of the ability of any ECM to reduce expenditures (that can otherwise be used for operations), improve reliability and productivity, and potentially increase compliance.

The program will emphasize both identification and implementation of ECMs unique to each participating system. While the training is designed to identify energy efficiency opportunities for each attendee’s system, it is ultimately intended to empower attendees with the knowledge needed to continually find and implement opportunities for improved energy efficiency at their systems long after the training has concluded.

Electric rates—how they are structured and how to optimize their application. Proven methodologies and strategies for developing a successful sustainable energy management program for your facility. Energy conversion factors, formulas, and how to apply them in analyzing system consumption, costs, and projecting savings for energy initiatives.

Approaches and techniques for analyzing energy consumption data and identifying savings opportunities, as well as techniques for securing needed consumption information. Practical and implementable energy conservation measures. Logistics and Program Details Multiple program dates and locations to choose from.

Student can choose one, two, or all three days of instruction (see below). In-person instruction ONLY (no virtual attendance). Lunch and light refreshments will be provided.

Each cohort is limited to 20-30 students, ( depending on classroom size. (Be sure to register as soon as possible to reserve your spot.) Class Format Update for 2026 Students may choose to register for one (1), two (2), or three (3) the days of the course.

Topics for each day are listed below: Registration and sign-in 8:00-8:30 each day. Lunch and light refreshments included each day. Day 1: Energy Efficiency & Management 101 (Tuesday, 8:30a.

m. -3:00p. m.)

Description: A crash course in what a water or wastewater professional should know about energy efficiency and energy management. energy conservation opportunities, application considerations, and basic strategic energy planning.

6 PDHs: Day 1 course (only) is approved for 6 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) from IEP for drinking water and wastewater operators continuing education requirements (DW PGH Course ID# 260032; WW CE Course ID# CE01282501). Day 2: Energy Management Deep Dive (Wednesday, 8:30a. m.

-3:00p. m.) Description: A deeper dive into energy for the student looking to take the next steps in their energy management journey.

advanced electric rates and calculations, additional energy conservation opportunities, energy conversion factors/formulas/calculations, and metrics/data/benchmarking. Day 3: WWTP Applied Workshop (Thursday, 8:30a. m.

-1:00p. m.) Description: An applied workshop at the host WWTP, where classroom discussions turn into real-world examples and applications.

their current best practices, and how to make changes at your own WWTP. Recommended attendees are those part of, or interested in assisting, small and/or distressed water and wastewater systems, including: Water and/or wastewater professionals, Operators, ORCs, and managers, Local electricity or utility professionals, and State or local government personnel.

Interested attendees are encouraged to bring multiple participants from their facility , and/or invite colleagues from surrounding facilities to create a framework for long-term success. NOTE : The program will be focused on smaller water and wastewater systems, but it is not a requirement for attending.

Continuing Education Details 6 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) from IEP Please include your drinking water and/or wastewater operator certification number(s) during registration. Approved NC Drinking Water PGH Course ID# 260032(6 hours) Approved NC Wastewater CE Course ID# CE01282501 (6 hours) Professional Engineers may use the PDHs towards their continuing education credits at their discretion.

Program Dates and Offerings Pre-registration for the courses below is required! Each attendee must submit a registration. Register HERE for a FREE WWEE Training course.

Class #4: Statesville, NC (May 19-21, 2026) Dates: Tues. -Thurs. , May 19, 20 and 21, 2026 Daily Sign-in: 8:00-8:30 a.

m. Training Times: Tues. -Wed.

, 8:30 a. m. - 3:00 p.

m. and Thurs. , 8:30a.

m. - 1:00 p. m.

Location: Statesville Fourth Creek WWTP, 693 Bell Farm Road, Statesville, NC 28625 Last date to register: Fri. , May 15, 2026 Lunch and light refreshments included Class #5: Hendersonville, NC (June 23-25, 2026) Dates: Tues. -Thurs.

, June 23, 24 and 25, 2026 Daily Sign-in: 8:00-8:30 a. m. Training Times: Tues.

-Wed. , 8:30 a. m.

-3:00 p. m. and Thurs.

, 8:30 a. m. -1:00 p.

m. Location: Hendersonville Operations Center, 305 Williams St, Hendersonville, NC 28792 Last date to register: Fri. , June 19, 2026 Lunch and light refreshments included Class #6: Central to Eastern NC (Sept.

22-24, 2026, Location TBD) Dates: Tues. -Thurs. , September 22, 23 and 24, 2026 Daily Sign-in: 8:00-8:30 a.

m. Training Times: Tues. -Wed.

, 8:30 a. m. -3:00 p.

m. and Thurs. , 8:30A-1:00P Last date to register: Fri.

, Sept. 18, 2026 Lunch and light refreshments included We're looking forward to a WWEE course in Central to Eastern NC and want to hear from you! If this is of interest, please register to receive the latest details as logistics firm up.

Class #1 : Greenville (April 1, 8 and 15, 2025) at Greenville Utility Commission’s WWTP, 240 Aqua Lane Class #2 : Sanford (June 10, 17 and 24, 2025) at Sanford Water Reclamation Facility, 5327 Iron Furnace Road Class #3 : Wallace (Sept. 16, 23 and 30, 2025) at Wallace Public Works, 838 Old Wilmington Road Frequently Asked Questions Do I have to attend all three days? Can I attend just Day 1?

Can I attend Day 1 and 3? While students are encouraged to attend all three days, we realize some facilities don’t have the staffing to cover while students are away. Therefore, students may attend any number of days.

Is there a cost to attend this training? No, this program is provided at no cost for all attendees. I am interested but cannot attend the sessions listed.

When will additional sessions be released? Who should attend this program? Managers and/or operators of wastewater treatment plants, particularly from systems designated as distressed, who are interested in learning more about how energy efficiency can save their system money through low and even no-cost adjustments are encouraged to attend.

(See ‘Who Should Attend?) Yes, and light refreshments during the breaks! I am interested in learning more.

Where do I go for more information? Please note: This training information is also available on the (DEQ) State Energy Office website .