Communities receive $219.5 million from EPA

Multiple areas throughout Northeast Ohio are receiving $219.5 million in low-interest and principal forgiveness funding from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency in efforts to improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, in addition to other water quality and system improvements.

The loans, financed through the state’s revolving fund, were approved earlier this year and will save communities more than $31.6 million, according to officials.

“By investing (in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure), we are working toward a better quality of life for all Ohioans,” Gov. Mike DeWine stated in a news release. “Water issues exist everywhere, and these projects help ensure that community-level, basic public services are safe and reliable for generations to come.”

Statewide, the agency awarded about $269.8 million in loans during the first quarter of 2022, including more than $6 million in principal forgiveness. Combined, Ohio communities will save approximately $43.8 million when compared to market-rate loans.

Ohio EPA financed about $797 million for public works projects in 2021, saving communities more than $166 million in interest when compared to market-rate loans.

According to the release, the following Northeast Ohio projects are receiving funding for the first quarter of 2022 include:

• Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District — receiving $201.5 million to construct three miles of combined sewer overflow storage tunnel, three tunnel shafts, near-surface sewers, and diversion and gate control structures

• Rocky River — receiving $1.9 million to design improvements to the wastewater treatment plant

• Natural Areas Land Conservancy — receiving $1.3 million in two loans from the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program for two projects to protect 76 acres of highquality wetlands and upland forested buffer habitats in Geauga County and 55 acres, in perpetuity, of high-quality aquatic resources within the Upper Grand River watershed

Through the program, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District in Cleveland is directing a portion of the interest to be repaid on its Shoreline Storage Tunnel project loan to be used for the wetland restoration project and will also do so for the following four projects:

• Holden Arboretum — receiving $1.1 million from the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program to acquire the Daly/Fallon property, which includes a high-quality fen

• Western Reserve Land Conservancy — receiving $1 million from the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program to protect 78 acres, including 35 acres of Category 3 wetlands,43 acres of upland forest, and 2,700 linear feet of Class A primary headwater habitat streams

• Lorain County Metro Parks — receiving $277,440 from the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program to acquire and restore 181 acres of the current Dorlon Golf Club

• Lake County — receiving $1.5 million from the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program to remove Brightwood Dam on Kellogg Creek

Moreover, health departments, districts, and county commissions in Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Lorain counties are receiving $150,000 in principal forgiveness loans for the repair and replacement of household sewage treatment systems.