Greensboro officials recently made a pitch to state legislators to provide funding for water and sewer infrastructure.
Among the requests to the state is $160 million to help remove what are known as "forever chemicals" from the Mitchell Water Treatment Plant. A report last year found Greensboro's drinking water exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency's new standards.
The City Council in February approved $2.7 million to hire the Haskell Company to oversee the first phase of upgrades to its water treatment facilities.
Deputy City Manager Chris Wilson says removing the chemicals is a concern beyond the city's financial abilities.
"This year, we're budgeted at $99 million. That number for infrastructure, filtration, everything else over the next five years is a much, much larger number."
Next, the city is expected to send a priority list of funding requests to the Guilford County legislative delegation.