Ohio EPA announces $69.7 million low-interest loan for Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) is helping the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) attain compliance with stormwater regulations and improve water quality in Lake Erie with a $69.5 million low-interest loan.
 
Made available through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) the funding will go towards constructing combined sewer overflow tunnels. In total, the project will entail constructing 14,000 linear feet of storage pipe tunnel, 7,000 linear feet of sewers and 13,000 linear feet of storm sewers.

NEORSD will also construct three basins for storm water retention and flow regulators, and will conduct repairs on aspects of the existing system.
 
The WPCLF loan carries a low interest compared to conventional market loans, which -- along with a discount provided through the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) -- will save the sewer district approximately 10.8 million.
 
The WPCLF was created in 1989 and provides funding for improvements to community and home sewer systems, implementation of agricultural best practices, closures of landfills and development and implementation of storm water projects related to water quality. The fund also provides technical assistance for those receiving loans, helping throughout planning, design and construction of the projects.