Ohio EPA awards water, sewer loans: Money coming to Canton, Akron, Rittman

Kelly Byer, The Repository
·2 min read

The Ohio EPA will loan Canton more than $53.2 million to fund water and sewer infrastructure improvements.

It's the largest low-interest loan the EPA awarded to Northeast Ohio communities in the third quarter ― during which time the agency provided about $220 million in loans with more than $10 million in principal forgiveness statewide.

These loans will save the communities a total of $40.1 million compared to market-rate loans, according to a Friday news release.

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“Drinking water and sewage treatment infrastructure are important components of Ohio’s economy and Ohioans’ quality of life,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in the release. “My administration has made clean water a priority across the state and will continue this effort moving forward.”

The state's water revolving loan funds are supplying the financing. The Ohio EPA implements the loan programs and coordinates projects and the Ohio Water Development Authority manages the finances, according to the release.

Canton's funding will support improvements to the Sugar Creek Water Treatment Plant and wellfield, and the replacement of two sanitary sewers with larger sewers. The plant southwest of Canton is one of the city's three water treatment plants.

The other Northeast Ohio loan awards were:

  • Akron ― More than $12.3 million as part of the Northside Interceptor Tunnel project to control combined sewer overflows.

  • Cleveland ― More than $11.9 million to build a new water tower to improve water pressure for customers in the village of Richfield.

  • Lorain ― More than $5.8 million to replace aging water mains and lead service lines. The lead project includes $1 million in principal forgiveness.

  • Willoughby ― More than $5.1 million to replace an outlet sewer, which will increase storage capacity for the watershed, and construct a storm sewer conduit.

  • Mahoning County ― More than $1.5 million to replace the Diehl Lake wastewater treatment plant to increase its capacity.

  • Rittman ― More than $1 million to replace aging water mains and lead service lines on Sterling Avenue. The loan includes $168,550 in principal forgiveness.

  • Trumbull County ― More than $912,000 to build about 4,700 feet of mainline sanitary sewer to serve 35 residences in western Champion Township.

  • Wellington ― More than $380,000 to replace the wastewater treatment plant's ultraviolet system with a new Trojan Signa system.

  • Canfield ― More than $300,000 for the design of two sanitary sewer extensions to a 22-acre parcel and a 286-acre parcel.

  • New Waterford ― More than $200,000 to replace sanitary sewers and install gravity sewers, laterals and manholes.

Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn Twitter: @kbyerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio EPA loans Canton $53.2 million for water, sewer projects