An additional $78.7 million has been obligated to fund 47 water quality improvement projects using U.S. EPA stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) along with loans from Ohio EPA. Two of the 45 projects are here in Clark County.

The county received a $68,409 ARRA subsidy to combine with an equal low-interest loan totaling $136,818 to line sewers in the Park Layne area, reducing clean water that infiltrates these sewers, which are tributary to the Southwest Regional Waste Water Treatment Plant and discharge into the Mad River.

The county also received a $94,325 ARRA subsidy to combine with a $91,378 low-interest loan totaling $185,703 to line sewers and rehabilitate manholes to stop excess water infiltrating the Northridge area collection system, limiting combined sewer overflows into the Mad River.
“Citizens all across Ohio will receive countless environmental and public health benefits from these projects,” said Ohio EPA Director Chris Korleski. “Improving drinking water and water pollution control infrastructure while putting Ohioans back to work is a double win for the environment and the economy.”
Projects receiving ARRA subsidies are combined with low-interest loans in most cases. They are funded through existing funding structures including the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) for water pollution control projects and the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) for drinking water projects. Listed below are 45 projects receiving funding through WPCLF:
ARRA funding will support 267 water pollution control projects in 160 communities and 65 drinking water projects in 52 communities in Ohio.  For more information on the federal program, visit www.epa.gov/recovery/, or see the Web sites below for Ohio specific details. 

The Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) is to receive $220.6 million in Recovery Act funding to combine with $730 million in non-ARRA funding. This will provide more than $950 million for water quality improvement projects to stimulate Ohio's economy. When compared to market loan rates, the combination of stimulus grants and low-interest WPCLF loans would save Ohio communities $569 million in financing costs over 20 years.

The Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) is slated to receive $58.46 million in an ARRA capitalization grant to combine with $81 million non-ARRA capitalization grants, bonds and repayments. Ohio plans to offer a total of about $140 million.  When compared to market loan rates, the combination of stimulus grants and low-interest WSRLA loans would save Ohio communities $154 million in financing costs over 20 years.