WPCLF Assistance is available for:

• qualifying wastewater treatment projects including:
  • wastewater treatment plant improvements/expansion
  • new/replacement sewers
  • excess sewer infiltration/inflow correction
  • facilities for unsewered areas
  • combined sewer overflow correction

• qualifying water quality-based storm water projects including:
  • Phase I and Phase II Storm Water requirements

• qualifying activities to reduce or avoid nonpoint source water pollution including:
  • agriculture/silviculture improvements and best management practices
  • wellhead protection
  • landfill closure
  • stream corridor restoration / protection
  • hazardous waste cleanup (brownfields)

The Ohio Water and Wastewater Resource Directory for Small Communities is available to provide information on technical and financial resources that can help community officials navigate the planning process and successfully manage the WPCLF project. The directory also has a convenient checklist to help keep projects on track.

Before project planning begins, you may want to identify and select an engineering consultant to assist with the development process. Depending on the type and complexity of the project, it may take a few months to a couple of years to complete. It is recommended that community officials contact the Ohio EPA and other funding sources as early as possible in the project planning phases. The WPCLF program funds planning, design and/or construction projects.

The WPCLF offers below-market interest rate loans.  Direct loans are made to most public and large private borrowers, while smaller borrowers usually receive indirect loans through the linked deposit program. Special discounted interest rates are available for qualifying projects.

In general, WPCLF loans for wastewater collection and treatment activities are available to public entities - Villages, Cities, Counties, and Sewer Districts. If you have never received a WPCLF loan, please contact us to schedule an introductory meeting. 

Wastewater loans typically follow the following basic steps. Assistance from the WPCLF – both in the terms of funding and technical assistance – is available for each of these steps.

Planning

Project planning defines the current situation, selects the best 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 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, and the review process within Ohio EPA can take anything from one month to 10 months, depending on the complexity of the project. WPCLF 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. DEFA will be there to help monitor the progress of construction and review changes that come up. After construction is complete, DEFA will stay with you at least one more year to help you make sure your new facilities are operating as planned. 

If you want planning, design or construction funding, the first activity is to submit a project nomination. Submitting a nomination is not a formal application or a commitment on your part. A nomination helps Ohio EPA ensure that funds will be available for your project when you need them, if you decide to proceed.

WPCLF loans for storm water activities are available to public entities - Villages, Cities, Counties, and Sewer Districts. Storm water activities which directly address water quality problems (rather than water control/flooding problems) are eligible for WPCLF funding. If you have never received a WPCLF loan, please contact us to schedule an introductory meeting.

Storm water loans typically follow the following basic steps. Assistance from the WPCLF – both in the terms of funding and technical assistance – is available for each of these steps.

Planning

Project planning for storm water generally consists of the development of a Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) that meets Ohio Administrative Code 3745-39. Some entities covered by OAC 3745-39 may already have completed the planning step. If not, a WPCLF loan can be used to finance the development of the SWMP. 

Design

You may need to develop detail plans and specifications for some of the best management practices proposed in the SWMP. In addition, some entities may need to development storm water utility structure or modifying an existing utility structure to incorporate have a method to collect fees and pay for storm water practices. WPCLF loans can be used to finance both of these activities.

Construction

Once the SWMP is approved by Ohio EPA, best management practices are designed and construction bids are obtained, a WPCLF construction loan can be awarded based on the actual bid costs for the work. DEFA will be there to help monitor the progress of construction and review changes that come up. After construction is complete, DEFA will stay with you at least one more year to help you make sure your new facilities are operating as planned.

If you want planning, design or construction funding, the first activity is to submit a project nomination.  Submitting a nomination is not a formal application or a commitment on your part.  A nomination helps Ohio EPA ensure that funds will be available for your project when you need them, if you decide to proceed.

WPCLF 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.). If you have never received a WPCLF loan, please contact us to schedule an introductory meeting.

Nonpoint source loans typically follow the following basic steps. Assistance from the WPCLF – both in the terms of funding and technical assistance – is available for each of these steps.

Planning

Project planning defines the current situation, selects the best 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 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 Solid and Infectious Waste Management, the Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, or the Division of Emergency and Remedial Response, 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 the 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. DEFA will be there to help monitor the progress of implementation and review changes that come up. 

If you want planning, design or construction funding, the first activity is to submit a project nomination. Submitting a nomination is not a formal application or a commitment on your part. A nomination helps Ohio EPA ensure that funds will be available for your project when you need them, if you decide to proceed.

The linked deposit program is a mechanism for financing certain WPCLF projects. In general, linked deposits are available to private organizations and individuals for nonpoint source projects. What makes linked deposits different from a loan for nonpoint source activities is instead of borrowing directly from the Fund, a linked deposit loan is made to the applicant by a private lending institution at a below-market interest rate. The interest rate for the loan is supported by a WPCLF-funded certificate of deposit with the lender.

Linked deposits can be used on a wide variety of projects, such as agriculture best management practices, urban storm water runoff control, stream corridor restoration, home sewage treatment system replacements, and forestry and land development best management practices. If you have never received any type of WPCLF funding, please contact us to schedule an introductory meeting.

Linked deposits typically follow the following basic steps. Assistance from the WPCLF – both in the terms of funding and technical assistance – is available for each of these steps.

Development

A Management Plan is developed as a collaborative effort between Ohio EPA and interested groups (e.g., county Soil and Water Conservation Districts, health departments, etc.) or individuals working on the linked deposit project. Also, a Memorandum of Understanding is developed, then signed by Ohio EPA and the interested party(ies). Finally, to establish the “links” in the linked deposit system, local banks are contacted (either by Ohio EPA or by the interested party) and a Participating Bank Agreement between Ohio EPA and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) is prepared.

Implementation

When the Management Plan is approved and the Memorandum of Understanding and Participating Bank Agreements are in place, individual linked deposit loans can then be awarded. A landowner develops an individual project plan and obtains a Certificate of Qualification from the interested party. With the Certificate of Qualification in hand, the landowner applies for a loan from one of the local participating banks.

If you want development or implementation funding, the first activity is to submit a project nomination. Submitting a nomination is not a formal application or a commitment on your part. A nomination helps Ohio EPA ensure that funds will be available for your project when you need them, if you decide to proceed.

(For publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities)

DEFA recognizes that communities have varying levels of administrative and technical capabilities. The level of expertise available at the local level during project planning, design, and implementation can have a significant effect on the time and effort needed to complete a water pollution control abatement project. In the long-term, communities benefit by understanding how their projects can be most effective during the life of the improvements to ensure that their financial and water quality goals are achieved . DEFA can help the community by providing technical and administrative assistance during the planning and operation of the project.

During planning, DEFA can provide technical assistance for such critical areas as flow evaluation, design standards and appropriate technology. DEFA project engineers, are trained in the latest techniques, can help determine the best and most cost effective solution for various water pollution problems. DEFA environmental planners can help communities by involving the public in the decision making process, determining locally critical environmental attributes, and identifying ways to minimize potential adverse environmental impacts of the project. DEFA project coordinators can assist communities in finding additional funding sources, and provide valuable assistance in developing debt retirement and user charge systems with emphasis on long term record-keeping methods.

The Ohio EPA and the WPCLF cannot assume responsibility for the adequacy of proposed, and operation of constructed, projects. This remains the responsibility of each of our loan recipients. However, we strive to supplement a community's technical and administrative capabilities wherever we can to achieve the consistent, timely and efficient implementation of its funded water pollution abatement projects.

To find out more about how DEFA might be able to provide assistance to you, please contact our offices at (614) 644-2832 or send e-mail to Pejmaan Fallah.

• Click here to view letter announcing the Final 2012 Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Program Management Plan
• Final 2012 Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Program Management Plan (PDF)
• Final 2012 Principal Forgiveness Detail Table (PDF)
• Response to Comments on the Draft 2012 Program Management Plan (PDF)
• Public Notice announcing the availability of the Final 2012 Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Program Management Plan (Word)
• Principal Forgiveness and Hardship Interest Rate Benchmarks for 2012 (PDF)

WPCLF HSTS Construction Contract Requirements

HSTS Appendix H

HSTS Project List

WPCLF Financing for Home Sewage Treatment System Repair and Replacement [PDF]

WPCLF HSTS Construction Contract Requirements

WPCLF/WSRLA Contract Document Review Checklist [PDF] [Word]

WPCLF HSTS Loan Agreement (Sample)

HSTS Appendix H

HSTS Project List

WPCLF Financing for Home Sewage Treatment System Repair and Replacement [PDF]

Integrated Priority System  [PDF]

Ohio Water and Wastewater Resource Directory for Small Communities [PDF]

State Wage Rates

Planning Pre-Award Schedule (Use for updating schedules for previously-nominated projects) [PDF] [Word]

Design Pre-Award Schedule (Use for updating schedules for previously-nominated projects) [PDF] [Word]

Construction Pre-Award Schedule(Use for updating schedules for previously-nominated projects) [PDF] [Word]

2012 Nomination Form [PDF] [Word]

WPCLF Program  [PDF]

WPCLF Linked Deposit Program [PDF]

WPCLF Financing Lateral Sewers to Replace Home Sewage Systems [PDF]

WPCLF Financing for Home Sewage Treatment System Repair and Replacement [PDF]

Storm Water Funding Through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund [PDF]

The standard Water Pollution Control Loan Fund standard interest rate is determined monthly based on an average of The Bond Buyer 20 General Obligation Bond Index less 125 basis points. The average is determined using the GO Bond rates from the eight Fridays ending with the second Friday of the previous month.

Standard Interest Rate List of Communities

The small community long-term interest rate will be 0.5 percent less than the standard long-term interest rate.

A small community is defined here as any incorporated area with a population of 5,000 or less, OR any applicant that has a current project service population of 5,000 or less and that charges the entire debt for the project solely to the project service population. Projects may not be broken arbitrarily into smaller service areas for the purpose of receiving the lower interest rate.

Small Community Interest Rate List of Communities

The short-term interest rate is available for financing loans with repayment periods of not greater than five years. For the current WPCLF program year, please reference the WPCLF Short-Term Interest Rate section. Typically this rate is used for planning and design efforts, but can also be used for construction and equipment financing. Repayments are made semi-annually, in ten equal installments.

To further reduce the cost of developing and constructing wastewater facilities, the following interest rates are available to qualifying applicants:

Communities with a service population equal to or less than 2,500 AND with a median household income of $45,500 or less will receive an interest rate of zero percent.

Communities with a service population between 2,500 and 10,000 AND with a median household income of $38,000 or less will receive an interest rate of 1.0 percent.

A community is defined here as any incorporated area OR any applicant with a current project service population within the noted ranges that charges the entire debt for the project solely to the project service population. Projects cannot be arbitrarily broken into smaller service areas for the purpose of receiving the lower interest rate.

0% Hardship Interest Rate List of Communities

1% Hardship Interest Rate List of Communities

Linked deposit borrowers generally receive an interest rate from participating banks which equals the bank's normal interest rate minus the interest rate discount the WPCLF gives the bank when it invests WPCLF funds with the bank.

For the current program year, the WPCLF linked deposit investment rate with participating banks will be up to 5.0 percent less than the Treasury Notes and Bonds interest rate would be for a note with a term of years equal to the term of the linked deposit loan. Where the federal note rate is not high enough to support the full 5.0 percent reduction, the discount will be reduced accordingly but in no case will it be lower than 1.0 percent. The effective rate to the borrower will depend upon the bank's normal rate structure, and the amount of the WPCLF discount available according to prevailing federal rates.

Linked deposit assistance may be available to private borrowers for a variety of water quality activities, such as agricultural nonpoint source water pollution control, home sewage treatment system improvements, and forestry best management practices.

Municipalities (counties, cities, villages) may wish to establish a program to provide loans to private individuals for upgrading on-lot sewage disposal systems. When implemented in conjunction with local health departments, the municipality may borrow from the WPCLF to capitalize its loan program, and will receive an interest rate of 1.0 percent for WPCLF loans with a term of five years or less.

An applicant may receive more than one discount on a construction loan, but the total interest rate for the construction loan will not be less than 0.2 percent. Interest rate discounts are available for the following categories. Click on the appropriate link for more details.

Septage Receiving Facilities

As an incentive for public owners of treatment facilities to include equipment designed to receive, treat, and dispose of septage, the WPCLF offers a reduction to a recipient's basic interest rate when it is borrowing from the WPCLF to improve other facilities.

A recipient receiving a WPCLF loan for wastewater facilities construction may also sponsor its own septage receiving facilities project as a part of the wastewater facilities loan. The WPCLF loan interest payments will be reduced to provide savings equal to the as-bid principal and interest costs of the septage receiving facilities. There is no obligation for the recipient to repay the cost of the septage project. The savings provided are exclusive of any capitalized interest costs or loan fees.

Those communities that are not borrowing for other wastewater facilities improvements may receive a WPCLF loan for their septage receiving proposals. For facilities that have the primary purpose of receiving, treating and disposing of septage, the recipient will receive an interest rate of 2.0 percent.

Municipal Water Conservation

To encourage water conservation by Ohio communities, Ohio EPA will reduce the basic WPCLF loan interest rate for wastewater treatment facilities by 0.1 percent for recipients who propose and implement qualifying water conservation programs.

Failed Non-Conventional Technology

Ohio EPA continues to encourage the development and implementation of non-conventional (innovative) technology. We recognize that there are benefits and risks involved in using these newer technologies. To that end, if the approved non-conventional treatment components fail, the WPCLF will forgive the interest on the remaining portion of the WPCLF loan attributable to the non-conventional technology and make available a zero percent loan for any qualifying facilities necessary to correct the non-conventional technology failure.

Conversion from Class B to Class A Sludge Production

To encourage municipalities to convert from the production of Class B sludge to Class A sludge, applicants with no existing sludge production facilities that construct new Class A sludge facilities or applicants with existing Class B sludge production facilities that convert to Class A sludge facilities will receive an up to 0.2 percent discount from their loan interest rates, except that the total value of the discount cannot exceed the cost of the incremental facilities needed to produce Class A sludge.

Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP)

A recipient receiving a WPCLF loan for wastewater facilities construction may also sponsor a WRRSP project as a part of its wastewater facilities loan. A portion of the interest due the WPCLF loan will be advanced to the implementer of the WRRSP project to pay for the implementation of qualifying actions to protect or restore water resource habitats. There is no obligation for the recipient or the implementer to repay the cost of the WRRSP project.

Either by themselves or in conjunction with other projects which are committed to be undertaken, WRRSP projects must provide complete protection or restoration of aquatic habitat sufficient to meet or protect the designated uses of the benefited water resource as defined under Ohio Water Quality Standards. Projects must address the physical and/or biological factors which have been identified to be among the primary reasons for the water body not fully attaining its designated aquatic life use criteria, or which constitute a threat to full attainment of the designated aquatic life use criteria.

Sponsors may participate in the WRRSP by undertaking projects themselves, or by implementing the project through a not-for profit organization such as a land trust, park district, or other entity with the ability to protect and manage the maintenance of the water resources.

The WPCLF will provide the funds for the cost of the approved WRRSP project. Additionally, the interest rate for the sponsor's wastewater facilities project will be reduced by up to 0.1 percent, but the overall rate of the sponsoring loan will not be less than 0.2 percent. For more information about the WRRSP, see our current Program Management Plan, Appendix F.5, and the WPCLF Links page.

If you have questions, please call the Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance at (614) 644-2798.

Although Ohio EPA cannot endorse, sanction or guarantee the accuracy of information found on external Web sites, we think you might find these outside links useful. When you select a link to an external Web site, you are leaving Ohio EPA's Web site and are subject to the privacy, security and accessibility policies of the owners/sponsors of the external site.

For more information on funding opportunities for drinking water or wastewater systems, visit www.epa.ohio.gov/ofa, or call DEFA at (614) 644-2798.

Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA):

To provide financial assistance for environmental infrastructure from the sale of municipal revenue bonds through loans to local governments in Ohio and from issuance of industrial revenue bonds for qualified projects in Ohio.

Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP):

Assistance for water infrastructure for rural, Native American and tribal communities to provide resources they need to obtain the quality of life they want and to meet the requirements of federal laws and regulations. Funding Sources for Public Water and Wastewater Projects in Ohio [PDF] is a document that provides more detail about the funders listed on this page.

Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC):

Administers the State Capital Improvement Program which provides loan assistance to municipalities for water and wastewater infrastructure. 

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG):

The primary statutory objective of the CDBG program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low- and moderate-income. 

U.S. EPA State and Tribal Assistance Grant (STAG):

An earmark appropriation by the USEPA for communities and other localities in the US to fund water supply and wastewater treatment projects.

Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group (SCEIG):

The Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group (SCEIG) is an association of federal and state agencies, local governments and groups, service organizations, and educational institutions designed to help small communities in meeting their environmental infrastructure needs. 

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC):

The Appalachian Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life.