Briefs: Health Department receives EPA funding for sewage treatment system improvements
Ohio EPA awards $107 million in financing to Northwest Ohio
Communities in Northwest Ohio are receiving approximately $107 million in low-interest rate and principal forgiveness funding from Ohio EPA to improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure and make other water quality improvements. These loans, financed through the state’s revolving fund, were approved between April 1 and June 30, 2022. The lower interest rates and principal forgiveness will save these communities more than $18 million.
Richland Public Health is among 16 county governments or local health departments in the region that are each receiving $150,000 in principal forgiveness loans to help low-income property owners repair or replace failing household sewage treatment systems.
Statewide, Ohio EPA awarded approximately $436.4 million in loans during the second quarter of 2022, including more than $9.7 million in principal forgiveness. Combined, Ohio communities will save approximately $71.9 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.
Area Agency on Aging to provide free smoke/carbon monoxide detectors
The Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc. will distribute free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to residents of Richland County that are age 60 and older at a Fire Prevention Month Awareness event from noon to 2 p.m. on Oct. 28 at Hawkins Corner, 2131 Park Avenue West, Door 300, in Ontario.
Area Agency on Aging staff and representatives from Richland County fire departments will be on-site to provide fire prevention resources and installation information.
Refreshments will be served. Registration is not required, but a form of I.D. is needed to show proof of Richland County residency. This event and complimentary smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are funded by the Richland County Senior Services Levy. For additional information, contact Karen Hagerman at 567-247-6487.
Conservancy district announces plans for temporary drawdowns at Charles Mill, Pleasant Hill lakes
NEW PHILADELPHIA — The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct its annual temporary drawdown of the normal pool elevation of the lake levels in November. The drawdown allows for additional flood storage capacity needs during the winter thaw and spring rains and allows MWCD personnel to access near-shore areas for shoreline stabilization projects and other reservoir maintenance activities.
Drawdown will begin in early November and the return to normal pool elevation will initiate in February. Normal pool elevations will be obtained in time for the next summer recreation season.
A six-foot temporary drawdown at Pleasant Hill Lake begins Nov. 1 while Charles Mill Lake will be dropped three feet beginning Nov. 15.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ohio EPA awards $150,000 to repair household sewage treatment systems
