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WOODLAND – Governor Roy Cooper’s office announced on Feb. 19 a multitude of grant and loan awards for water and wastewater projects across the state. Woodland was one of those lucky recipients.

With help from the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments, the town applied for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to address issues within the sewer system, and they were awarded a total of $983,500. The work will include replacing a lift station pump, working on new and existing manholes, replacing existing air valves, and more.

“Starting around 2012, we’ve had some sewer overflows, some manhole issues, lift station problems, and pump station issues,” explained Woodland Town Clerk Donielle McDermott. “So we’re really hoping this grant will help us take care of those issues we’ve been having.”

“Our maintenance department has really tried to stay on top of where the problems are,” she continued. “They’re very anxious to get started on it.”

A specific date for work to begin, however, has not been determined yet.

McDermott added the sewer rehabilitation project was a step in the right direction, and she was excited for the town to receive the grant funding.

According to the press release from Cooper’s office, the Woodland grant was one of 88 projects throughout the state that will address critical drinking water and wastewater projects. All were approved on Feb. 12 by the State Water Infrastructure Authority.

The overall total of grant and loan funds awarded statewide equaled $166 million.

“All families across our state deserve clean water,” said Gov. Cooper in the release. “Some water and sewer systems are over a hundred years old, and these funds will help communities meet their infrastructure challenges.”

Secretary Michael S. Regan of the NC Department of Environmental Quality was also quoted in the press release, stating, “access to clean water and reliable water infrastructure is critical to the economic competitiveness and future resiliency of North Carolina’s communities.”

Applications for the next round of funding for water and wastewater infrastructure projects are open until Apr. 30.