1. BACKGROUND
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) will award and administer grants for water infrastructure projects under the Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program (per Notice of Funding Opportunity: EPA-OW-OGWDW-21-01). For Fiscal Year 2025, EPA will provide funding to help public water systems increase the resilience of drinking water infrastructure to natural hazards, extreme weather, and cybersecurity risks. Approximately $9.5 million nationwide will be awarded in grants in the Spring of 2026.
For Fiscal Year 2025, the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities requests approval to apply for and if funded, receive up to $2,375,000 for the Upground Reservoir Design Project under the US EPA Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Grant Program. The proposed Upground Reservoir Design Project will address increasing drought risks by advancing detailed design for one of two new water supply reservoirs to support Department of Public Utilities service area. These facilities will increase storage and provide a critical buffer against future droughts, helping to safeguard drinking water supplies for 1.4 million residents in Central Ohio.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this legislation will authorize the Director of Public Utilities to apply for, receive, and if funded, appropriate and expend grant funds from the US EPA Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program and required matching cost share funds from the City that will be authorized in a subsequent ordinance.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to apply for, receive and execute the US EPA Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program funding; to authorize the execution of grant and other requisite agreements funded with said US EPA grants and providing for the acceptance and administration of said grant award on behalf of the Department of Public Utilities; to authorize the expenditure of any awarded funds and the refund of any unused funds. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The US EPA will award and administer water infrastructure grants under the Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus owns and operates a public water system serving more than 100,000 residents and is therefore eligible to apply for funding under the program as a large system; and
WHEREAS, the US EPA Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Grant Program provides grant awards totaling $9.5 million nationwide which are received through the grants.gov portal and are anticipated to be awarded in Spring 2026; and
WHEREAS, if awarded, EPA Funds will provide the City up to $2,375,000 in grant funding; and
WHEREAS, the City authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to apply for, receive and execute US EPA funding for the Upground Reservoir Design Project to enhance resilience, sustainability and reliability of its drinking water system through the United States Environmental Protection Agency Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program; and
WHEREAS, City Council approval is needed to apply for and accept the grant funding;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to submit an application for a grant from the US EPA Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program; to accept said grants, if awarded; and to execute a grant agreement and any other documents necessary to effectuate said application, acceptance, or agreement on behalf of the Department of Public Utilities.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Utilities be and hereby is authorized to execute any agreement or other documents necessary to effectuate applying for and receiving US EPA Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program grant funding.
SECTION 3. That the Department of Public Utilities be and hereby is authorized to expend any grant funds awarded in accordance with the terms and conditions of said grants.
SECTION 4. That, at the end of the grant period, or upon request of the grantor, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.