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 administ...
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