Morrow County residents will soon be afforded some relief when it comes to the cost of repairing/replacing failing household sewage treatment systems. On October 30, Morrow County Health Department received approval from the Ohio Department of Health, for $300,000 in grant funds awarded through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Assistance program, issued in conjunction with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

According to the Ohio Department of Health, “Nearly one-fifth of American households depend on septic systems to treat their wastewater.” With the cost of sewage system repairs consistently rising, the program will bring welcomed relief to those in our community who may not be in a position to afford repairing or replacing their aging system.

The EPA’s program is structured so that households earning up to 100% of the federal poverty guidelines will be eligible for 100% of the cost for repairing/replacing their treatment system; households earning between 100% and 200% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for 85% of the cost for repairing/replacing their treatment system; and households that earn between 200% and 300% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for 50% of the cost for repairing/replacing their treatment system.

The funds will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and are anticipated to be available from Morrow County Health Department in the near future. For more information, please contact Brian Benick at 419-947-1545 ext. 302: For additional information and tips on maintaining your household sewage treatment system, follow the link to the Ohio Department of Health’s Know Your Household Sewage System reference guide at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/~/media/ODH/ASSETS/Files/eh/STS/PUB-FS-knowyourHSTS.pdf.

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Michelle Gilstrap

Health Educator/Public Health Information Officer

Morrow County Health Department