Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance

Home Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS)

Promoting water quality benefits by providing financing through local health departments for the upgrade and repair of HSTS.

 As a precautionary response to COVID-19, Ohio EPA is currently operating with most staff working remotely. If you are working with our staff on a current project and you know the name of the employee you are working with, email them at firstname.lastname@epa.ohio.gov or call them directly. The Agency website has contact information for every district, division, and office. In order to reach us, please contact Ohio EPA’s main phone line at (614) 644-3020 or the main line for the division or office you are trying to reach.

After March 23, our district offices and Central Office will be temporarily closed and will have increasingly limited ability to receive deliveries, plans, etc. All entities are encouraged to submit plans, permit applications, etc., electronically where there are existing avenues to do so, such as the eBusiness Center (eBiz). Please refer to the list of available services on the main eBiz webpage. We encourage you to make use of all that apply, even if you have not used eBiz in the past. Plans under 25 MB can be emailed. For large plans over 25 MB, entities should work with the reviewer/division to upload via LiquidFiles. Directions for submitting docs via LiquidFiles is available on YouTube. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you in advance for your understanding. If you wish to send hard copies of documents to any of Ohio EPA’s district offices, the best method to ensure we receive these documents is to send them via U.S. Mail. Since all offices are closed, deliveries outside of U.S. Mail (FedEx, UPS) will likely be returned because the offices are closed and deliveries cannot be made.

To report a spill or environmental emergency, contact the spill hotline (800) 282-9378 or (614) 224-0946. 


This map represents all HSTS awards from 2009–2019. 81 counties participating. Colors represent
Ohio EPA district dffices. Click to enlarge.

 

Ohio EPA offers three options for directing funding assistance to homeowners for improvements to failing home sewage treatment systems (HSTS):

1) Development of a “linked deposit” program; 
2) Local loan capitalization program; and
3) Principal Forgiveness loans to Local Health Districts (LHDs).  

Because the principal forgiveness loans are like grant funds, it is the most popular of the three options. Since 2016, Ohio EPA has awarded almost $50 million to Ohio LHDs for them to administer to eligible homeowners.

Through the principal forgiveness program, the LHDs set priorities and identify income-eligible residents (100%, 200% and 300% of the Health and Human Services poverty guidelines) with failing HSTS. This program is for homeowners only and is not intended for commercial applications.


 

 

Awards to LHDs range from $150,000 to $300,000 per year. For 2019, the maximum is $150,000. Up to three percent of the award amount can be used for administrative expenses. LHDs have 18 months to draw the funds from the loan.

For existing systems, funds may be used for repairs, replacements and lateral connections. For new systems, funds may be used for site evaluation, design and some permitting costs.

LHD Responsibilities

  • Nominate projects during August nomination period.
  • Bid and award contracts, inspect work.
  • Receive funds and pay contractors.
  • Maintain records of all transactions, and keep supporting documentation on hand.

Homeowner Eligibility

Homeowners can qualify for up to 100 percent as principal forgiveness. No minimum or maximum amounts per household.

Less than 100% of the HHS Poverty Guideline 100% PF to homeowner
Between 100% - 200% HHS Poverty Guideline 85% PF to homeowner
Between 200% - 300% HHS Poverty Guideline 50% PF to homeowner

 

HSTS Funding through the WPCLF

Year Funding Available Funds Awarded Funds Disbursed Number of Health Districts
2016 $13.2 million $13,298,500 $10,105,987 57
2017 $13.2 million $13,169,600 $9,655,473 51
2018 $13.2 million $13,431,600 $10,941,307 72
2019 $10.3 million $10,194,000 $3,475,444 71
2020 $10.8 million $10,825,000 $218,098 75
Totals (to date) $60.7 million $60,918,700 $34,396,309  

 

Summary of HSTS Results

Funding Year Soil Evaluations Repairs Completed Replacements Installed Lateral Connections
2016 802 261 763  
2017 724 158 643 94
2018 842 87 743 114
2019 110 29 177 12
Totals 2,478 535 2,326 220

 

Interest Rates

The following interest rates will be in effect in August 2020
WPCLF/WSRLA Standard Entity  0.67% 
WPCLF/WSRLA Small Systems 0.17% 
WSRLA Affordability Pt. Systems  0.17% 
WPCLF Hardship Community  1% or 0% 
WPCLF Local Loan Capitalization Program (10 years) 0% 
WPCLF/WSRLA Linked Deposit  Refer to the Program Management Plan 
Note: WPCLF/WSRLA construction loans are typically for 20 years, unless noted in the PMP. Shorter term planning and design loans are available. 

 

 
 800-282-9378