Ohio has most stimulus-funded water projects

COLUMBUS (AP) — A review by federal officials says Ohio has more stimulus-funded projects involving clean water and drinking water than any other state.

The report released today by the Government Accountability Office says the state’s Environmental Protection Agency has funded 336 water projects using about $281 million in stimulus money.

Of the projects, 118 met a “green reserve” requirement, including installation of a turbine that converts methane gas into electricity at a wastewater treatment plant.

The report also says the Ohio Department of Transportation was able to fund an additional 51 projects with its $936 million stimulus allocation because bids have averaged about 10 percent below the state’s cost estimates. The department had awarded contracts for 339 of 393 planned projects as of late April.