News

After Helene, city makes major investment in wastewater treatment plant

Representatives from the city and other partners celebrated the grants and loans received to fund Hendersonville's Wastewater Treatment Facility Flood Mitigation and Expansion Project. Shown, from left, are Zachary Trammel (McKim & Creed), Brent Detwiler (city engineer), Susan Mims (Dogwood Health Trust), Devin Owen and Garrett DeMoss, of the city, Suzanne Molloy (N.C. DEQ Division of Water Infrastructure), Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Hensley, Adam Steurer, water-sewer director, Brian White (Land of Sky Regional Council).

By Bill Moss, Published: September 22, 2026

Hendersonville city staffers and representatives from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Dogwood Health Trust, Land of Sky Regional Council and other partners joined together at the City's Wastewater Treatment Facility Tuesday to celebrate grants and loans that funded capacity expansion and improved resiliency. 

Grants and low-interest loans awarded to the city for the Flood Mitigation and Expansion Project totaled $72 million. They included:

• $20.1 million in grant funding awarded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration for wastewater treatment infrastructure improvements to support the local manufacturing industry impacted by Hurricane Helene
• $2 million in grant funding from Dogwood Health Trust towards the expansion project
• $11 million in North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality State Revolving Fund grant funding for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Flood Mitigation Project
• $39 million in North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality State Revolving Fund low-interest loans for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Flood Mitigation Project

“We are thrilled to receive this funding to complete improvements at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility," Utilities Director Adam Steurer said. "The project makes our wastewater treatment facility more resilient to extreme flooding like we saw during Hurricane Helene but also provides additional treatment capacity to support the needs of our growing community.”   

This funding goes towards a significant project at the plant that relocated and elevated treatment equipment away from flood-prone areas. During Hurricane Helene, the wastewater treatment plant was inundated with floodwaters that damaged equipment and left the facility inoperable for almost two weeks. The project also increased treatment capacity from 4.8 million gallons per day to 6.0 million gallons per day. Highlights of the project include:

·       Improving resiliency of essential public infrastructure from future flood events and disasters

·       Protecting the public health of our community and safeguarding water quality within Mud Creek and downstream in the French Broad River Basin

·       Ensuring reliable wastewater service for residents, businesses, and industries in the region

·       Supporting sustainable business and industrial growth and development

“Our utility staff and partners have worked diligently to win these competitive funding awards so that we may complete important infrastructure projects while keeping our rates affordable," Steurer said. "I’m also grateful for the regional Land of Sky Council of Governments team and the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development who assisted Hendersonville with the EDA funding application."

"The ability to provide great services to our residents and businesses is huge," Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Hensley said. "We have received millions of dollars in grants so far, and this will have a direct impact on our ratepayers and our businesses. We are very grateful for the partnerships that have made this possible."

Today's ceremony took place almost two years after Helene flooded the plant. The city continues to aggressively pursue additional funding opportunities to complete the $100-plus million project.

To learn more, visit https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/news/wastewater-treatment-facility-investments