Four local communities awarded grants for public drinking water distribution equipment

COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio EPA have announced $2.2 million in H2Ohio grants for more than 250 communities in 78 counties to help pay for equipment needed to maintain public drinking water distribution systems.

Four water systems in Richland County are among the grant recipients:

• Eastview Community Water Association - $10,000
• Village of Lucas - $10,000
• City of Ontario - $9,735
• Village of Plymouth - $5,965

Public water systems were eligible to apply for up to $10,000 through H2Ohio. The grants cover distribution system equipment such as mobile leak detectors, line locators, valve exercisers, flow meters, hydrant condition assessors, pressure monitors, and training to use the equipment.

This is the second year that H2Ohio Public Water System Equipment Grants have been awarded. In 2023, $1 million was awarded to more than 100 communities statewide.