Biden-Harris Administration expands EPA program to bring wastewater sanitation services to 150 more underserved communities across Rural America
Publilshed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
RALEIGH N.C. (Feb. 15, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the expansion of its successful Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative to 150 additional communities as part of President Biden’s Investing America agenda. Originally launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the pilot initiative has been assisting 11 communities since 2022. This program, along with historic funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help thousands of Americans access the wastewater infrastructure they need to thrive to include North Carolina communities in Duplin and Halifax Counties.
“Many rural and low-income communities in the U.S. lack basic running water and indoor plumbing, and our Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Program has been instrumental in helping communities from White Hall, Alabama to McDowell County, West Virginia to the San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona access Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to address this critical need,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “In expanding the program to 150 additional communities, we are working to restore dignity and opportunity to underserved communities nationwide.”
Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative
An estimated 2 million people in the U.S. live without adequate wastewater infrastructure and safe and reliable drinking water in their homes. Many more live with wastewater infrastructure that is ineffective and puts people’s health at risk. To date, the initiative has helped provide communities with no cost technical assistance that helps identify affordable options accessing wastewater infrastructure. For example, technical assistance providers help the community conduct assessments of the community’s specific needs and submit applications for wastewater funding. So far progress for the 11 pilot communities includes seven funding awards and 10 additional funding applications submissions. All 11 communities have drafted community solution plans, which are in the process of being finalized, and will be posted to EPA’s Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap webpage in the early spring.
In Duplin County, two communities, Calico Bay Road (approximately 80 homes) and East Log Cabin Road (approximately 15 homes) have a history of failing septic systems. Duplin County submitted two USDA SEARCH grant applications to fund Preliminary Engineering Reports for these two communities, with an award expected by the end of February. The pilot project team identified three potential wastewater treatment options for each community and presented options to the Towns of Teachey and Wallace at their board meetings. Both towns agreed to provide sewer services as a potential wastewater solution.
Halifax County received a $149,520 USDA SEARCH grant award to fund an updated Preliminary Engineering Report and provide Environmental Information Documents to help the Meadows Sewer District, which is a three-mile radius area in Halifax County that includes a large population of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe. Many homes in the district have failing septic systems. After completion of the Preliminary Engineering Report, the Tribe and County will reconvene with the community to discuss options, costs, and a pathway to moving forward. The pilot project team proposed a community cluster system with a phased approach for the densely populated areas and septic system upgrades for sparsely populated areas. A sewer extension to nearby towns is also being considered. The pilot project team facilitated an in-person meeting between the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, Halifax County, and state funding representatives for the first time to discuss roles for moving the project forward.
Interested communities can request assistance by completing the WaterTA request form.
Communities will be selected on a rolling basis; there is no deadline to apply. For questions, email SepticHelp@epa.gov.
Learn more about EPA’s WaterTA services and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic $50 billion investment in America.
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Read the full article at: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-expands-epa-program-bring-wastewater-sanitation-services-4
