Proposal would help ease sewer problems in Valley

The act would authorize $1.8 billion in grant money.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Several area communities could benefit from proposed federal legislation that would help at least 86 Ohio communities finance renovations to sewer systems.

A 2008 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency survey shows that 86 facilities in Ohio have serious sewage overflow problems, which would cost an estimated $6.3 billion to repair, U.S. Sens. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said in a joint statement.

Local communities, and the number of combined sewage overflow systems for each as reported by the EPA, are:

UMahoning County: Youngstown, 101.

UTrumbull County: Girard, 4; Newton Falls, 25; Warren, 4.

UColumbiana County: Lisbon, 9.

The legislation, introduced by Voinovich and Brown and titled the Clean Water Affordability Act of 2009, is aimed at updating the EPA’s clean water affordability policy, which they say puts undue strain on the budgets of local communities.

Further, the act authorizes $1.8 billion over five years for a grant program to help financially distressed communities update their aging infrastructure. The grants would be 75 percent federal money with a 25 percent local share.

The money could be used for planning, design and construction of treatment works to control combined and sanitary sewer overflows.

“We cannot expect cities to spend millions of dollars for water infrastructure upgrades without help from the federal government,” the lawmakers said.

Brown said townships also would be eligible to apply for the grants.