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Council hears update on PFAS treatment design, grant funding and construction outlook
Summary
Staff said PFAS design is fully grant‑funded (~$1.3M) and expects at least $4M in potential construction grants from Ohio EPA/WSRLA plus roughly $2M from settlements; total construction cost estimates remain near $17M at study phase and will be refined during 15–18 month design.
Councilors received a focused update on the city’s PFAS remediation work during the CIP presentation. Engineering staff said the design phase is covered by a grant/loan forgiveness award of about $1.3 million and the project will produce plans for a 4 million gallon per day granular activated carbon treatment plant. The design will transition chlorine gas systems to liquid chlorine, provide space for future softening and include a new clear well sized for treatment contact time.
When asked about likely construction funding, staff cited the Ohio EPA WSRLA program and said that program could provide up to $4 million in grant money for construction; combined with an estimated ~$2 million from settlements tied to chemical manufacturers, staff estimated roughly $6 million likely available in grants/settlement funds but said construction estimates from the study phase were near $17 million (with a 30% contingency). Staff described options including 0% loans and further council discussion on fees or other funding sources as the design advances.
Staff emphasized the design phase will take 15–18 months and that further value engineering during detailed design could change final cost and funding needs. Councilors acknowledged the funding challenge and thanked staff for ongoing quarterly updates; no construction authorization or spending votes occurred at the meeting.
"We received a 100% funded grant funding, loan forgiveness funding on that, approximately $1,300,000," staff said when describing design funding. On construction funding staff said, "when you go to get your construction... we will give you up to $4,000,000 in grant money."
