The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's revised publication, "State and Federal Funding for Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment Systems" provides information on the Agency's available funding. The Ohio EPA is trying to inform municipalities and other Ohio public entities of the different funding programs that they offer for financing the planning, design, construction and/or improvement of drinking water and wastewater systems.
Some of the funding programs that are listed in the Ohio EPA's publication include:
The Ohio Drinking Water Assistance Fund. This fund offers loans to public water system owners at below-market rates for water treatment and water distribution system improvements. Eligible systems must be publicly or privately owned community water systems or non-profit, non-community water systems. Application information relating to this fund may be obtained by contacting the Ohio EPA's Division of Drinking and Ground Waters at (614) 644-2752.
The Drinking Water Emergency Loan Fund. This fund provides loans to owners or operators of public drinking water systems for emergency remediation of a threat of contamination that prevents such systems from supplying adequate quantities of safe, drinkable water to their customers. To be eligible, a water utility system must have a valid license to operate and document the threat of contamination. For application information, contact the Agency's Division of Drinking and Ground Waters at (614) 644-2752.
The Village Capital Improvement Fund. This fund aids Ohio villages with loans for financing preliminary and detailed engineering plans, feasibility studies and legal costs associated with planning phases of wastewater and/or drinking water facilities. Application must be made prior to the preparation of the plans, study or design for which funds are requested. Eligible villages include those who by ordinance or resolution of their legislative authority have determined it is necessary to construct or improve wastewater or public drinking water facilities. For further information, contact Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance at (614) 644-3637.
The Water Pollution Control Loan Fund. This fund offers communities below-market interest rates for municipal wastewater treatment improvements and nonpoint source pollution control projects. The projects and functions eligible for assistance are: wastewater treatment facilities; septage receiving facilities; landfills; urban stormwater runoff; forestry best management practices; agricultural runoff control and brownfield/contaminated site remediation. For additional information, contact Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance at (614) 644-2832.
