Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF)

The WPCLF provides financial and technical assistance for various projects to protect or improve the quality of Ohio’s other water resources. WPCLF offers below-market interest rate loans to local governments and most public borrowers for eligible projects, including: Wastewater treatment plant improvements/expansion New/replacement sanitary sewers Funding to homeowners, through local health departments, for improving failing home sewage treatment systems (HSTS) Excess sanitary sewer infiltration/inflow correction Facilities for unsewered areas Combined sewer overflow correction Storm sewers Implementation of water resource protection or restoration projects, also known as the water resource restoration sponsor program (WRRSP) Principal forgiveness is available for many projects funded by the WPCLF. Website: Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance Governing Statute: Ohio Revised Code 6111.036 Eligibility: Public entities including sewer districts are eligible for wastewater loan funding through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF). Public or private entities may be eligible for nonpoint source projects. Specifications: Below-market interest rate loans are available for construction of wastewater treatment facilities and sewer systems, with planning and design loans currently offered at 0% interest. The standard below-market interest rate is established monthly. The program also offers a small community interest rate and hardship interest rates of 0% and 1% for qualifying borrowers. Limited grant-like funding called principal forgiveness is available for borrowers that meet affordability criteria ( small system, below state average MHI). Principal forgiveness funding is very competitive, based on project scoring and readiness-to-proceed. There are currently no minimum or maximum loan amounts. The WPCLF finances approximately $500 million for projects each year. Application Deadline: Project nominations are accepted each August for the upcoming program year, which begins January 1. Planning and design projects may be nominated throughout the program year. Contact: Jonathan Bernstein, Chief Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance 614.644.3715 [email protected] June 16, 2021 | Agency The Water Pollution Control Loan Fund program provides financial and technical assistance for improvements to surface and ground water quality and is administered under Section 6111.036 of the Ohio Revised Code. Rules that support the implementation of parts of the WPCLF may be found at Ohio Administrative Code 3745-150 . Program Year 2027 Call for Nominations Due September 25, 2026 Call for Nominations Letter (PDF) WPCLF Program and Call for Nominations Overview (PDF) Readiness to Proceed Overview (PDF) Disadvantaged Community Overview (PDF) Small Communities Eligible for Principal Forgiveness (PDF) Large Communities Eligible for Principal Forgiveness (PDF) Nomination Form (Excel) - with instructions WPCLF Project Planning Guidance (PDF) - updated with Regionalization Evaluation Ohio EPA File Transfer System (PDF) - for documents larger than 10MB If you have questions regarding the WPCLF program, please contact the Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance at 614.644.2798 or via email Programs The Water Pollution Control Loan Fund program provides financial and technical assistance for improvements to surface and ground water quality and is administered under Section 6111.036 of the Ohio Revised Code. Rules that support the implementation of parts of the WPCLF may be found at Ohio Administrative Code 3745-150 . Home Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS) The WPCLF program offers principal forgiveness funds to local health departments and districts to upgrade and replace failing home sewage treatment systems (HSTS) and sewer lateral connections to a public sewer system.