Columbus Authorizes State Loan Pipeline for 61 Sewer and Stormwater Projects
City Council approved low-interest borrowing backed by planned utility rate increases while granting administrative authority to adjust the capital roster.
Columbus City Council approved legislation during its Oct. 26 meeting authorizing Columbus Water & Power to apply for, accept, and enter into loan agreements for public utilities capital improvements. The financing framework provides below-market interest rate loans for municipal wastewater and stormwater system improvements, jointly administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Water Development Authority. The measure covers a capital pipeline of 61 nominated projects that the Division of Water Reclamation submitted to the Ohio EPA in September 2026 for construction anticipated to be contracted in 2027.
Columbus City Hall and Portman Plaza at 90 W. Broad Street in downtown Columbus.
Credit: General Ization / Wikimedia Commons Image source
Under the adopted measure, sewerage system service charges and stormwater fees are designated as dedicated repayment sources for the loans. According to city legislative records, sewerage system and stormwater rate increases have been projected and planned in anticipation of these projects and loans. City records note sufficient budget authority in operating funds for loan fee expenditures, while the loan for each project and loan fee payments will be legislated separately.
Council granted utility leadership blanket authority to modify the capital project roster without seeking further council approval or legislative amendments. Under the measure, it may become necessary to add or subtract from this list of projects for reasons including schedule adjustments, departmental need, or agency eligibility decisions.
Nominated tunneling projects on the capital list include the Three Creeks Relief Tunnel and the Scioto Main Augmentation Relief Trunk. Nominated wastewater treatment projects include JPWWTP screening improvements as well as JPWWTP digester improvements on the capital roster. At the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant, nominated investments support process control improvements across the facility, along with sludge dewatering upgrades to enhance solids processing.
The capital list includes Blueprint Miller Kelton lateral lining under the Miller Kelton Newton Bedford project. The capital list also includes Lateral Lining - Blueprint Clintonville 3 under Project 1 on the schedule. The authorized legislation includes Water Reuse Improvements Phase 1 on the capital schedule. The authorized legislation also includes the Sunbury Road and Mock Road HSTS elimination project alongside the Olentangy River Road and Snouffer Road HSTS elimination project.
Previously, Pique Media reported on Oct. 19 that water utility measures and municipal spending were scheduled for Columbus City Council review.
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Columbus City Council · 2026-10-26
Supporting evidence (2)
Columbus City Council approved legislation during its Oct. 26 meeting authorizing Columbus Water & Power to apply for, accept, and enter into loan agreements for public utilities capital improvements.
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2837-2026 · To authorize the Director of Columbus Water & Power to apply for, accept, and enter into Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Loan Agreements with the Ohio Water Development Authority and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the financing of Public Utilities capital improvements; and to designate a dedicated source of repayment for the loans. ($0.00) Approved ·
Columbus City Council approved legislation during its Oct. 26 meeting authorizing Columbus Water & Power to apply for, accept, and enter into loan agreements for public utilities capital improvements.
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REGULAR MEETING NO. 47 OF COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026 at 5:00 P.M. IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
Supporting evidence (21)
The financing framework provides below-market interest rate loans for municipal wastewater and stormwater system improvements, jointly administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Water Development Authority.
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This loan program is jointly administered by the Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). The WPCLF Loan Fund program provides below-market interest rate loans for municipal wastewater and stormwater system improvements.
The measure covers a capital pipeline of 61 nominated projects that the Division of Water Reclamation submitted to the Ohio EPA in September 2026 for construction anticipated to be contracted in 2027.
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61 650246-100001 JPWRP Sludge Dewatering Improvements
The measure covers a capital pipeline of 61 nominated projects that the Division of Water Reclamation submitted to the Ohio EPA in September 2026 for construction anticipated to be contracted in 2027.
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In September of 2026 the Division of Water Reclamation submitted nominations to the Ohio EPA for construction projects anticipated to be contracted in 2027 that are eligible for WPCLF funding.
Under the adopted measure, sewerage system service charges and stormwater fees are designated as dedicated repayment sources for the loans.
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SECTION 3. That Sewerage System Service Charges are hereby authorized to be the dedicated source of repayment for the Sanitary and Treatment Engineering projects’ Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Loans.
Under the adopted measure, sewerage system service charges and stormwater fees are designated as dedicated repayment sources for the loans.
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SECTION 4. That Stormwater Fees are hereby authorized to be the dedicated source of repayment for the Stormwater projects’ Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Loans.
According to city legislative records, sewerage system and stormwater rate increases have been projected and planned in anticipation of these projects and loans.
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Sewerage System and Stormwater rate increases have been projected and planned in anticipation of these projects and loans.
City records note sufficient budget authority in operating funds for loan fee expenditures, while the loan for each project and loan fee payments will be legislated separately.
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There is sufficient budget authority in the 2027 Sewer Systems and Stormwater Operating Funds for the loan fee expenditures.
City records note sufficient budget authority in operating funds for loan fee expenditures, while the loan for each project and loan fee payments will be legislated separately.
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The loan for each project and the payment of loan fees are legislated separately from this ordinance.
Council granted utility leadership blanket authority to modify the capital project roster without seeking further council approval or legislative amendments.
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City Council authorizes the Director of Columbus Water & Power to make changes to the list as the Director of Columbus Water & Power deems necessary without seeking City Council approval for the changes and without amending this ordinance.
Under the measure, it may become necessary to add or subtract from this list of projects for reasons including schedule adjustments, departmental need, or agency eligibility decisions.
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that it may become necessary to add or subtract from this list of projects for various reasons including project schedule adjustments, departmental need, or the loaning agency deciding a project is not eligible for funding;
Nominated tunneling projects on the capital list include the Three Creeks Relief Tunnel and the Scioto Main Augmentation Relief Trunk.
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50 650493-100000 Three Creeks Relief Tunnel
Nominated tunneling projects on the capital list include the Three Creeks Relief Tunnel and the Scioto Main Augmentation Relief Trunk.
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54 650769-1000000 Scioto Main Augmentation Relief Trunk
Nominated wastewater treatment projects include JPWWTP screening improvements as well as JPWWTP digester improvements on the capital roster.
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3 650252-100010 JPWWTP Screening Improvements
Nominated wastewater treatment projects include JPWWTP screening improvements as well as JPWWTP digester improvements on the capital roster.
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45 650240-100000 JPWWTP Digester Improvements
At the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant, nominated investments support process control improvements across the facility, along with sludge dewatering upgrades to enhance solids processing.
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8 650378-100001 Southerly Plant Wide Process Control Improvements
At the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant, nominated investments support process control improvements across the facility, along with sludge dewatering upgrades to enhance solids processing.
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48 650349-100001 SWRP Dewatering Improvements
The capital list includes Blueprint Miller Kelton lateral lining under the Miller Kelton Newton Bedford project.
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29 650872-162001 Blueprint Miller Kelton Newton Bedford Lateral Lining Project 1
The capital list also includes Lateral Lining - Blueprint Clintonville 3 under Project 1 on the schedule.
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26 650872-139001 Lateral Lining - Blueprint Clintonville 3 Project 1,
The authorized legislation includes Water Reuse Improvements Phase 1 on the capital schedule.
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60 691800-100002 Water Reuse Improvements Phase 1
The authorized legislation also includes the Sunbury Road and Mock Road HSTS elimination project alongside the Olentangy River Road and Snouffer Road HSTS elimination project.
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35 650895-100007 Sunbury Rd / Mock Rd HSTS Elimination Project
The authorized legislation also includes the Sunbury Road and Mock Road HSTS elimination project alongside the Olentangy River Road and Snouffer Road HSTS elimination project.
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57 650895-100006 Olentngy River Rd/Snouffer Road HSTS Elimination Project
Columbus City Council Dockets Feature Emergency Spending, Water Projects, and Zoning Hearings
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported on Oct. 19 that water utility measures and municipal spending were scheduled for Columbus City Council review.
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Columbus City Council Dockets Feature Emergency Spending, Water Projects, and Zoning Hearings