OEPA: Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Grant

OEPA: Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Last Updated: August 19, 2025

Summary

The Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, provides essential financial and technical support for projects aimed at improving water quality in Ohio. This includes assistance for wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and nonpoint source pollution control. The program is vital for local governments and communities seeking to enhance their water infrastructure and protect the state's water resources, ensuring compliance with environmental standards.

Overview

Water Pollution Control Loan Fund The Water Pollution Control Loan Fund program provides financial and technical assistance for improvements to surface and ground water quality and is administered under Section 6111.036 of the Ohio Revised Code. Programs The Water Pollution Control Loan Fund program provides financial and technical assistance for improvements to surface and ground water quality. Home Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS): The WPCLF program offers principal forgiveness funds to local health departments and districts to upgrade and replace failing home sewage treatment systems (HSTS) and sewer lateral connections to a public sewer system. Public entities may also request local loan program capitalization funding for HSTS improvements, lateral construction, and septic system abandonment, or for financing green infrastructure improvements on the part of local entities storm water pollution controls.Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF): Wastewater Collection and Treatment: The Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) offers financial and technical assistance to public or private applicants for the planning, design, and construction of a wide variety of projects to protect or improve the quality of Ohio's rivers, streams, lakes and other water resources. In general, WPCLF low interest loans to address and solve wastewater infrastructure challenges are available to public entities (villages, cities, counties and sewer districts) for the following types of projects:wastewater treatment plant improvements/expansion new/replacement sewers excess sewer infiltration/inflow correction facilities for unsewered areas including HSTS systems combined sewer overflow correctionWastewater projects seeking loans typically follow these basic steps. Assistance from the WPCLF – both in terms of funding and technical assistance – is available for each of these steps.Planning — Project planning defines the existing situation, selects the cost effective solution, identifies specific steps to implement the solution, and explains the project to the local public. The future success of a project depends on the thoroughness of the work done during this step. Planning for a wastewater project can take as little as one month for very simple projects, or up to one year or more for very complicated projects. WPCLF low interest loans can be used to finance planning activities. Design — Once a solution is identified through project planning, you need to develop the detail plans and specifications for the work and submit the documents to Ohio EPA for review and issuance of a Permit to Install (PTI). Detailed plans and specifications can take months to develop, depending on the complexity of the project. WPCLF loan interest loans can be used to finance design activities.Construction — Once a PTI is issued and construction bids are obtained, a WPCLF construction loan can be awarded based on the actual bid costs for the work. During the construction phase, DEFA staff can review project changes as they occur, and provide advice regarding effective use of mitigative measures. Then, for the first year after construction is complete, we will help you make sure your new facilities are operating as planned.Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) — Storm Water Activities:WPCLF funding is available for the capital costs of storm water activities. Planning, design and construction or implementation activities are all eligible. However, WPCLF funding cannot be used for ongoing personnel, operation, and maintenance costs associated with storm water control and treatment. For example, planting trees and shrubs, equipment purchases, and the development and initial delivery of education programs are capital projects that are eligible for funding, but the salary of the person operating the purchased equipment is not eligible.Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) — Nonpoint Source Water Pollution:WPCLF low interest loans for nonpoint source activities are available to both public entities (villages, cities, counties and sewer districts) and private entities (e.g., non-profit organizations, private companies, individuals, etc.) for the following types of projects:agriculture/silviculture improvements and best management practices wellhead protection stream corridor restoration/protectionNonpoint source projects seeking loans typically follow these basic steps. Assistance from the WPCLF – both in terms of funding and technical assistance – is available for each of these steps.Planning — Project planning defines the existing situation, selects the best solution, identifies specific steps to implement the solution, and explains the project to the local public, if needed. The future success of a project depends on the thoroughness of the work done during this step. Planning for a nonpoint source project can take as little as one month for very simple projects, or up to one year or more for very complicated projects. Sometimes, other Ohio EPA divisions, such as the Division of Materials and Waste Management, the Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, or the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation, may be dictating the requirements for project planning. WPCLF loans can be used to finance planning activities. Design — Once a solution is identified through project planning, you may need to develop detail plans and specifications for the work. Depending on the solution to be implemented, detailed design may not be necessary. If needed, WPCLF loans can be used to finance design activities. Implementation — Once bids for the cost to implement the work are obtained, a WPCLF construction loan can be awarded based on the actual bid costs for the work. During the construction phase, DEFA staff can review changes that occur and provide advice as needed.Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) — Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program:The goal of the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) is to counter the loss of ecological function and biological diversity that jeopardize the health of Ohio's water resources. WPCLF funding is available for WRRSP projects that specifically target the protection and restoration of high-quality streams and wetlands.  To qualify for WRRSP funding, projects must result in the full protection and/or restoration of targeted aquatic resource; streams must either be in attainment of, or fully restored to, warmwater habitat or higher aquatic life use under Ohio Water Quality Standards, and wetlands must achieve or be fully restored to Ohio Rapid Assessment Method Category 3 status.

Eligibility

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