City replacing water mains with EPA help

The city of Lorain is installing new water mains in South Lorain with a lowinterest loan from the Ohio EPA, according to a news release.

This project includes replacing aged and deteriorating water mains which will help ensure reliable delivery of water and avoid frequent repair costs associated with older water mains, the release stated.

Created in 1998, the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account provides belowmarket interest rate loans for improvements for community drinking water systems and nonprofit, noncommunity public water systems.

Lorain is receiving a $3.8 million low-interest loan from the Ohio EPA and is expected to save the city an estimated $795,000 when compared to a market rate loan, according to the release.

Ohio EPA’s State Revolving Fund loans are provided to communities to build and upgrade wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, upgrade home sewage treatment systems, better manage storm water, address combined sewer overflows and implement other water qualityrelated projects.

Financial assistance helps support planning, design and construction activities and enhances the technical, managerial and financial capacity of these systems, according to the release.

Ohio’s State Revolving Fund 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 release said.

The State Revolving Fund programs are managed by Ohio EPA’s Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance, with assistance from the Ohio Water Development Authority.

The 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 State Revolving Fund funds.

More information about the State Revolving Fund loan program is available at epa.ohio.gov/defa/EnvironmentalandFinancialAssistance.aspx.