Ohio EPA will hold two public hearings on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, to accept public comments on the draft 2019 Program Management Plan for the Drinking Water Assistance Fund (DWAF). The fund provides financial and technical assistance for a variety of projects that help improve or protect the quality of Ohio's drinking water.

A principal forgiveness loan is one in which some (or all) of the principal is forgiven, that is, it does not have to be repaid. It is essentially a grant.

The draft Drinking Water Assistance Fund (DWAF) Program Management Plan (PMP) for program year (PY) 2019 is available for review until June 19. Ohio's DWAF program is very robust, and has, in recent years, funded all eligible projects. Ohio EPA plans to maintain that level of fund availability. Two public meetings are scheduled to answer questions and receive comments. Written comments are also accepted. Ohio EPA will review and evaluate all applicable comments and, if appropriate, make adjustments to the PMP.

The City of Oregon’s water treatment plant is a regional public water system serving 29,000 people in several northwestern Ohio communities and counties. Their water intake is in the western basin of Lake Erie. The shallow depth of the basin, combined with factors such as runoff, nutrients, winds, currents and invasive mussels can contribute to algae blooms from June to September of each year. Certain types of algae, in turn, release microcystins that are generally harmful upon contact.

Public comment periods and stakeholder input opportunities.

Public comment periods and stakeholder input opportunities.

Public comment periods and stakeholder input opportunities.

Public comment periods and stakeholder input opportunities.

Public comment periods and stakeholder input opportunities.

Public comment periods and stakeholder input opportunities.