Water Pollution Control Loan Fund
The Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) provides financial and technical assistance for a wide variety of projects to protect or improve the quality of Ohio's rivers, streams, lakes, and other water resources. Planning, design, and construction assistance is available for both public and private applicants.
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)
Ohio Water and Wastewater Resource Directory for Small Communities
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.
Getting a WPCLF Loan for Wastewater Activities
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.
Getting a WPCLF Loan for Storm Water Activities
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.
Getting a WPCLF Loan for Nonpoint Source Activities
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.
Getting WPCLF Linked Deposit Financing
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.
WPCLF Technical Assistance
(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.