Lumberton awarded $2 million in state funding for well replacement projects. Here's what it means.
Lumberton is one of several communities in the state to receive part of the $282 million in loans and grants created to help pay for drinking water and wastewater projects, according to Gov. Roy Cooper's office.
The city will receive $2,316,900 in principal forgiveness loan funding through the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 to construct three wells outside of the flood plain in the city. The new wells would replace three old ones that are subject to flooding, according to a news release.
Governor Cooper approved the funding Feb. 23 after a State Water Infrastructure Authority meeting. The Authority, an independent nine-member group that awards federal and state funding for water infrastructure projects, also helps the state develop a state water infrastructure plan.
Lumberton and Robeson County saw record flooding during Hurricane Matthew. More than 500 people were evacuated due to flooding brought on by Hurricane Florence and … Show more
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“North Carolina’s communities need resilient, viable water infrastructure systems to support economic development," Cooper said in a news release. "Funding these projects helps counties and towns with aging water infrastructure deliver clean, safe water to attract new jobs and keep people healthy.”
The announcement of the funding came a few days after Lumberton experienced flooding from the Lumber River on Feb. 18; the river reached 20 feet. The river's normal stage is at 13 feet and begins to flood when it reaches 15 feet, affecting surrounding areas. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the river that expired Wednesday.
Lumberton and Robeson County experienced severe flooding during Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. The Lumber River runs through the city of Lumberton, home to about 21,000 people, and when it floods it can affect the areas around the bank and homes nearby. In 2018, the water crested to about 28 feet during Hurricane Florence, resulting in the evacuation of more than 500 people and damage to hundreds of properties.
There are a total of eight wells in Lumberton, and most of them are in a flood plain. Rob Armstrong, the director of the Public Works Department for the city, said the flooding the city experienced in February was recorded as the most flooding from a non-hurricane-related event.
"Some of the wells are already elevated and do not get damaged during a flood," Armstrong said. "But three of our primary wells are subject to get damages and flooded during a hurricane event. This grant is important for us because what we'll have to do is abandon those three wells that are within the flood plain and put in three new wells outside the flood plain."
This grant is one of three that will help remove excess water from the area during flooding. Other grants the city received help with treated water production projects and projections to the water plant.
"We didn't really have any damage last week to our infrastructure," Armstrong said. "When the river floods ... we do have a levee system that protects south of West Lumberton, and that levee system works really well during floods like we have last week."
However, when hurricanes hit, the levees don't work well and some homes around the river that are most affected by flooding are in a buyout program, according to Armstrong.
The ASADRA provides $17.2 billion in supplemental money to federal departments and agencies to cover expenses needed after natural disasters like wildfires, earthquakes and hurricanes.
Studies show that North Carolina needs between $17 billion to $26 billion in upgrades to its water and sewer infrastructure statewide, according to the release. The Governor's Office released documents detailing the funding awarding summary indicating which towns and cities received money for specific projects.
“Many municipalities are struggling, and that struggle is symptomatic of the overall condition of the rural economy and the challenges of managing aging infrastructure issues and associated costs," said Kim Alston, the director of the Division of Water Infrastructure and Authority chairperson. "The number of units that initially met the criteria is indicative of the significant need for funding.”
According to the Division of Water Infrastructure at the NC Department of Environmental Quality, $11 billion is needed to fund clean water projects and $15 billion is needed to address the state's drinking water issues over the next 20 years.
KRISTEN JOHNSON | THE FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER