Ohio EPA has finalized the 2015 program management plan for the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF). The WPCLF is a revolving loan fund that provides low-interest loans and other financial and technical assistance for a variety of projects to address the quality of Ohio’s rivers, streams, lakes and other water bodies.
In August 2014, Ohio EPA solicited and received several hundred project nominations from communities across Ohio. The program management plan lists the projects that will be eligible to receive loan funds in 2015 if program requirements are met.
Significant changes made to the program for 2015 include:
- In response to the need to help reduce harmful algae blooms, the WPCLF is offering an additional $100 million at a zero percent interest rate for projects that include equipment and facilities to reduce phosphorus and other excess nutrient pollutants. Ohio EPA will continue to receive project nominations throughout 2015, as long as funds are available.
- As part of the $6.4 million in principal forgiveness, $1 million will be provided to the Ohio Department of Health to help counties, communities and individuals address home sewage treatment system problems, particularly those in the Lake Erie basin.
- Specially discounted interest rates (zero percent hardship, 1 percent all others) will be offered to those applicants who wish to develop fiscal sustainability plans. These plans include an inventory of critical assets of a wastewater treatment system and a plan for maintaining, repairing and replacing assets as needed.
The primary sources of WPCLF assistance are proceeds from bond issues, available loan repayments and federal capitalization grants. Ohio EPA may issue revenue bonds to help in meeting the coming years funding requests.
For more information contact [email protected] or call (614) 644-3636.
