Staff report

The Ohio EPA is awarding more than $2.8 million to 122 public water systems in 58 counties to support critical improvements that will help ensure safe, reliable drinking water for Ohio families.

These grants, which are funded through the U. S. EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Capitalization Grants, will help public water systems maintain a continuous supply of safe drinking water, strengthen the protection of the water source, properly close inactive wells and invest in emergency generators.

“Being able to offer this funding to more than 120 water systems across the state is the definition of a win-win,” Ohio Director John Logue said. “It helps these systems to have the capability of enhancing what they do and how they do it at no extra cost to them – but, more importantly, it helps Ohio families have access to more reliable, safer, healthier drinking water.”

The Ohio EPA prioritized emergency generator projects to help water systems maintain service and protect the water supply during power outages. The grants will reimburse systems for the initial costs of generators and necessary accessories. Thirty-eight systems were awarded $1.28 million for emergency generators, including the McCartney Mobile Home Park in Mahoning County, which received $44,000.

Approximately $1.6 million has been awarded for additional water quality improvement projects under the following categories:

● Condition Assessment Program — Helps small community public water systems increase their technical capacity to provide water by contracting with a third party to develop their asset management program. The Deer Meadows Mobile Home Park in Mahoning County received $19,400, while the villages of Newton Falls and Lordstown in Trumbull County received $20,000 each.

● Source Water Assessment Protective Strategies — Supports the implementation of strategies to safeguard source water for community public water systems. The village of Sebring in western Mahoning County received $2,068.

● Well Abandonment — Assists with the costs of properly abandoning inactive public water system wells. The city of Canfield received $3,437.