Partnership committed to improving water quality
MWCD recently approved a partnership with the Ohio Water Development Authority to invest $5 million in the existing Freshwater Loan Program to assist communities within the jurisdictional boundary to build and improve wastewater treatment systems.
A core mission of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is to maintain good water quality in lakes and rivers for the benefit and enjoyment of the community.
"A new partnership with the Ohio Water Development Authority will invest $5 million to improve community wastewater treatment in the MWCD region," said Craig Butler, MWCD executive director. "This new program builds on the current commitments to invest in the vitality of our parks, marinas and communities. Having excellent water quality is imperative when attracting millions of visitors to our parks, lakes and marinas annually."
The latest estimates (2012) from USEPA indicate more than $271 billion are needed to fully fund necessary community wastewater improvement needs nationally. Ohio’s needs are at over $14 billion with small communities reporting needs of over $1.5 billion. This is despite having programs that have already invested billions of dollars to build, enhance and replace critical infrastructure.
The MWCD Board of Directors recently approved a partnership with the Ohio Water Development Authority to invest $5 million in the existing Freshwater Loan Program to assist communities within the jurisdictional boundary to build and improve wastewater treatment systems.
For qualifying communities, MWCD will subsidize the interest from any OWDA Freshwater Loans to defray or lessen overall project costs. “We feel strongly about investing in our communities and protecting the waters within the conservancy district. This is a way for us to do both, and we are proud to be a partner with OWDA in this important program,” Butler said.
The OWDA program is one funding source communities use to finance expensive wastewater/storm-water upgrades, often required by Ohio/USEPA because of poor performance and negative impacts to water quality.
“On behalf of the Tuscarawas County commissioners, we are very pleased to hear the announcement by MWCD that they are partnering with the Ohio Water Development Authority,” said Al Landis, Tuscarawas County commissioner. “Five-million dollars is a significant and great investment for our area. Improving overall water quality has a positive impact, not only for our residents, but also the thousands of visitors who come to our area for recreation. We appreciate MWCD investing in our futures.”
“Water is the most basic necessity of life. In our area lack of good infrastructure is unfortunately a major problem,” State Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport) said. “I’m very excited about and appreciative of MWCD’s and OWDA’s partnership to help support these vital local projects and their continued investment in our communities.”
Eligible borrowers include departments, divisions or other units of state government; watershed districts and soil and water conservation districts; municipal corporations, counties, townships and other political subdivisions; special water districts including county and regional sewer and water districts, conservancy districts, sanitary districts and sewer districts; or any other public corporation or agency having the authority to acquire, construct or operate wastewater or water management facilities.
Interested applicants can submit a loan application through the portal found at www.OWDA.org. The loan application and supporting documentation is due to the OWDA office by the deadline posted on the OWDA website. Applications are accepted on an open cycle.
OWDA will begin to review a project after a complete application has been received. An application will be presented to the OWDA board for approval after it has been determined the local government has the ability to repay the loan. MWCD also will complete a review to ensure it meets its eligibility requirements during this time.