Ohio EPA provides $107 million in loans for Euclid wastewater system improvements

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency announced this week that Euclid, Ohio will receive several low-interest loans totalling more than $107 million to protect Lake Erie from sewer overflows and water discharges.

The funding is provided by the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF), which helps communities improve their wastewater treatment systems. The interest rates for Euclid represent a savings of $12.2 million over conventional market-rate loans.

Using the funding, the city will undertake four projects. To address sewer overflows that introduce harmful bacteria into Lake Erie beaches, the city will rehabilitate a sanitary sewer main line. Euclid will also update its wastewater treatment plant with a membrane bioreactor and preparations for the reactors installation. These upgrades will allow the plant to handle more sewage and better remove phosphorus and nutrients from water discharges. Finally, the city will also relocate a major storm sewer and make changes to its electrical substation.

The WPCLF is funded through federal grants and loan repayments. Loans are available for a range of projects, including home sewage improvements, landfill closures and the implementation of best-management agricultural practices. The fund also has a division, the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP), dedicated to restoring and protecting waterways.