Unifour Septic Tank Repair Program

The Unifour Septic Tank Repair Program

Acting Entity: Western Piedmont
Council of Governments
and Alexander, Burke, Caldwell
and Catawba Counties
Contact Person: Mike Struve
Cost: $453,500
Population Served: 106,405

Water Supply: Reservoir, Lake Hickory,
Lake Rhodhiss, Catawba River, Jacobs Fork
River, Town of Longview, City of Hickory,
City of Lenoir, Town of Valdese, Town of
Granite Falls, Town of Morganton,
Town of Newton
PWS ID: several PWS systems served

Water quality in western North Carolina is threatened by the discharge of untreated wastewater into streams, either through leaking septic tank systems or straight piping. Often, the homes identified as having wastewater disposal problems are located in low-income areas of the state and citizens cannot afford to make the necessary repairs. The Western Piedmont COG organized a program that targets straight piping situations or faulty septic tanks and provides a grant or a loan to repair the home so that it meets compliance with NC environmental standards. The money lent out to fix septic tanks was supplied by a grant from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The low-interest loans are repaid over five years, perpetuating the repair program and helping NC citizen make repairs to their home they would have been unable to afford otherwise.