EPA Designates the County of Summit Department of Environmental Services Projects for ARRA Economic Stimulus Funds

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) has informed the County of Summit Department of Environmental Services (DOES) that it is set to receive a total of $971,550 in assistance, comprised of ARRA Stimulus Funding of $199,350 in direct grant funds and a loan of $772,150. These funds will be utilized to finance three sewer system improvement projects. The financing portion of the project is anticipated to be accomplished through the State's Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF). Public comment is requested for the proposed projects. The ARRA funding gives DOES the ability to invest in Utility System upgrades which are anticipated to result in improved service to our customers and enhances capabilities to protect our environment. The County intends to start these projects in 2009 complete all of them in 2010.

• The major project will be the implementation of telemetry at 61 pump station so that they can be directed to a centralized communications system called SCADA which monitors and controls systems that cover relatively large geographic areas. This project will permit quicker response time when a failure at the pump station occurs. Additionally, it will provide an improved prediction of failure so that repairs and replacement of components can be done before they become problem. Also, manpower can be allocated to addressing problems rather than spending effort to locate them by site visits. The estimated cost of this project is $514,000 of which the ARRA would cover $75,000.
• The pump station at Massillon and Boettler Roads in Green, Pump Station #51, would receive new more efficient sewage pumps. The horsepower needs would be reduced and the efficiency of the new pumps would be substantially better than the existing units. This Green project would cost $210,000 of which $90,000 will be covered by ARRA funds.
• Finally, approximately 45 severely deteriorated sanitary manholes throughout the sewer system will be repaired. These manholes have outlived their useful life and are potential for failure and therefore blockages and overflows from the sewer system. Many of them contribute groundwater to the sanitary system needlessly increasing the cost of sewage treatment. The project cost is estimated to be $247,500 of which $34,350 will be covered by ARRA funds.

DOES is actively engaged in several projects to improve its wastewater collection system and treatment facilities, and while no sewer rate increases are planned to support borrowing for these improvements, user rates will be regularly reviewed to ensure that fund income adequately supports growing debt.

Questions and/or comments regarding these projects may be submitted by October 1 to the Department of Environmental Services, Donald Gallimore, Deputy Director, Engineering, 2525 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 44223; dgallimore@does.summitoh.net  or 330-926-2426.