Ohio Lake Erie Commission

09/17/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/17/2021 14:13

Central Ohio Communities Receive $32 Million in Financing from Ohio EPA for Wastewater, Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvements

9/17/21
PUBLIC INTEREST CENTER, (614) 644-2160
MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Chenault

Communities in Central Ohio are receiving more than $32 million in low-interest rate funding from Ohio EPA to improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure and make other water quality improvements. The loans were approved between April 1 and June 30, 2021. Lower interest rates will save these communities more than $5 million.

Statewide, Ohio EPA awarded more than $97.8 million in loans during the second quarter of 2021, including $17 million in principal forgiveness. Combined, Ohio communities will save more than $30 million when compared to market-rate loans. The projects are improving Ohio's surface water quality and the reliability and quality of Ohio drinking water systems. This funding includes assistance to local health districts to help low-income property owners repair or replace failing household sewage treatment systems.

For the second quarter of 2021, the following Central Ohio projects are receiving funding:

  • Columbus is receiving approximately $31.2 million for six projects which includes constructing a new storm sewer system and replacing existing inlet catch basins in the Holt Avenue/Somersworth Stormwater System area; providing sanitary sewers to a developed area of Portage Grove that is currently served by on-lot systems; transferring water service lines along Olentangy River Road; improving the intake structure and low head dam to Hap Cremean Water Plant; constructing new sanitary sewer service in the Williams-Behm areas that are currently unsewered; and more.
  • Johnstown is receiving $395,764 to construct a 2,200 linear foot relief sewer to help address system backups, overflows, and residential flooding along Mink and Jersey Streets with connection to the village's wastewater treatment plant. The entire loan is principal forgiveness, meaning it does not have to be repaid. The project also received a $500,000 H2Ohio grant.
  • Plain City is receiving $58,300 to install storm sewers on Noteman Street, and to install sanitary sewer lining on Noteman, Converse, and Shepper Streets.
  • Health Departments, Districts, and County Commissions in the following counties are receiving $150,000 in principal forgiveness loans for the repair and replacement of household sewage treatment systems: Franklin, Madison, and Pickaway counties, and the city of Columbus.

Created in 1989, the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) helps communities improve their wastewater treatment systems. The Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA), started in 1998, provides loans for improvements to community drinking water systems and nonprofit, noncommunity public water systems. Both programs offer below-market interest rate loans, which can save communities a substantial amount of money compared to a market-rate loan.

Ohio EPA's state revolving fund (SRF) loans are provided to communities to build and upgrade wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, upgrade home sewage treatment systems, better manage stormwater, address combined sewer overflows, and implement other water quality-related projects. Financial assistance helps support planning, design, and construction activities and enhances the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of these systems. WPCLF loans also make possible the restoration and protection of some of Ohio's highest quality water bodies through the fund's Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program.

Ohio's SRF loan programs are partially supported by annual federal capitalization grants and have grown substantially over time because of the revolving nature of the loan issuance and payments back into the fund. The SRF programs are managed by Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance, with assistance from the Ohio Water Development Authority. Ohio EPA is responsible for program development and implementation, individual project coordination, and environmental and other technical reviews/approvals of projects seeking funds. The Ohio Water Development Authority provides financial management of the SRF funds.

More information about the SRF loan program is available at: http://epa.ohio.gov/defa/EnvironmentalandFinancialAssistance.aspx epa.ohio.gov/defa/EnvironmentalandFinancialAssistance.aspx.

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The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1972 to consolidate efforts to protect and improve air quality, water quality and waste management in Ohio. Since then, air pollutants dropped by as much as 90 percent; large rivers meeting standards improved from 21 percent to 89 percent; and hundreds of polluting, open dumps were replaced with engineered landfills and an increased emphasis on waste reduction and recycling.